Mia’s mother had been evasive for months, insisting that she stay away from the house due to ongoing renovations. But Mia’s intuition told her otherwise. Her mother’s once-vibrant spirit had dimmed, and their phone calls had become increasingly rare. Despite her mother’s reassurances, Mia couldn’t shake the feeling that something was terribly wrong.
As she drove to her childhood home one Saturday morning, Mia’s mind was filled with questions. Why had her mother been so secretive? What was she hiding? The early morning light cast a soft glow over the quiet streets, but Mia’s heart was racing with anticipation.
When she arrived at the house, Mia was struck by the neglect that surrounded her. The garden, once her mother’s pride and joy, was overgrown and untended. Weeds pushed through the flower beds, and the rosebushes drooped, clearly untouched for months. A sense of foreboding washed over Mia as she stepped out of the car and approached the front door.
The house was eerily pristine, with no signs of renovation or dust. Instead, there was a sharp, citrusy smell in the air, reminiscent of hospitals. Mia’s heart sank as she called out for her mother, her voice echoing through the unnaturally quiet house.
As she made her way upstairs, Mia’s fear grew. She heard a faint creaking sound coming from her mother’s bedroom, and her heart pounded in her chest. Slowly, she pushed open the door, and her world came crashing down.
Her mother lay in bed, gaunt and pale, her hair gone, and her eyes sunken. Mia stood frozen in the doorway, her mind unable to process what she was seeing. Her mother’s weak voice barely registered as she whispered, “You aren’t supposed to be here.”
Mia rushed to her mother’s side, dropping to her knees beside the bed. “Mom, what’s going on?” she asked, her voice trembling. Her mother’s frail hand reached out, and Mia gently clasped it, feeling a wave of anger and sadness wash over her.
As her mother revealed the truth – that she had been undergoing chemotherapy for cancer – Mia’s world narrowed to the sound of her mother’s voice and the hollow ache in her chest. She struggled to breathe as her mother explained how the cancer had spread, how she had tried to keep it a secret, not wanting to burden her daughter.
Mia’s tears flowed as she held her mother close, feeling a mix of emotions: anger, sadness, and regret. “Why didn’t you tell me?” she asked, her voice cracking. “Why did you keep this from me?”
As they held each other, crying together, Mia realized that her mother had been trying to protect her, but in doing so, she had pushed her away. From that moment on, Mia vowed to be there for her mother, to support her through the darkest moments, and to cherish every moment they had left together.
