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

keep your mom

way to

that my mom and

the guilt resurfaced every time grandma was mentioned, reaching

if we hadn't thrown that

both ended up watching baby Mira

Gregory came out with the dishes, he glanced

his eyebrows

to my mom, "Mom, let's break free from the chains we've

poked Mira's cheek, and the baby,

gripping my hand, you

live healthily,

Mi

Gregory happy, to watch

grow up."

Mira find her

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

mom flicked my forehead, "What are you thinking? Do you think I'm like you kids, talking about falling

argued. "Any

for so many years, I don't want someone disrupting my