Lost Me Gained Regret

Gregory gently wiped away my tears, helped me to my feet, and took the baby from my arms.

"You've got two minutes for tears, any more than that is bad for the eyes."

I reached out and hugged him, rubbing my face against his shoulder, "No more crying."

Gregory patted my back and whispered in my ear, "Help your mom up, will you?"

I let go of him and turned around. As I bent down, my mom was turning her wine glass upside down.

The liquid inside traced a wet line across the floor.

My mom opened her mouth but didn't say anything.

Seeing her trying to get up, I reached out to help her.

She waved me off, "Go talk to your grandma some more, I'll head downstairs."

I still held onto her, "I'm done talking. Let's go home together."

A faint smile tugged at the corners of her lips as we slowly made our way downstairs, arm in arm.

Gregory, holding the baby, followed behind us.

he skipped

your

cook as a way to

aware that my

the guilt resurfaced every time grandma

avoided if we hadn't thrown that party, giving Summer an opportunity to cause

to her, and without planning, we both ended up

came out with the dishes, he glanced our

raised his eyebrows at me, magically

to my mom, "Mom, let's break free

and the baby, not

too, gripping my hand,

to live

Mi

Gregory happy, to watch

grow up."

maybe, to see Mira find her own

"Mom, you're free now, why not try falling

are you thinking? Do you

not?" I argued. "Any age is right

been alone for so