the one in the middle

not all her children were
as loved
as the one in the middle.
she was golden.
the peacemaker.
the one who always called
on mother's day.
on sunday.
who brought dessert
to family dinners.
the others were different.
not mean,
or awful,
but different. less caring
than the one in the middle.
this made her
wonder
if she held that one more
lovingly
in the night
when she cried.
what had she done wrong
with the others.