Gemotions

The silence of the hospital room was broken only by the rhythmic beeping of the machines. Sarah sat beside her mother’s bed, her gaze fixed on the drawing her niece, Chloe, had given her earlier. It was a picture of a little girl and a tall, thin figure with a crown of flowers. Sarah recognized it immediately. The same friend.

A wave of regret surged through her, a tidal pull against the anchor of her grief. She had been so consumed by her own sorrow that she’d neglected her mother’s needs, her sister’s support.

She reached out and took her mother's hand. She whispered, "I'm here, Mom," her voice choked with emotion. She squeezed the hand, a silent promise, the words unspoken, but felt.