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.

Elmwood Villas, he skipped

keep your

to cook as a way to ease the tension between

aware that my mom and

seemed like we had moved on, the guilt

been avoided if we hadn't

sat next to her, and without planning, we both ended up watching baby Mira in her crib, silent for a long

Gregory came out with the dishes, he glanced our

eyes met, and he subtly raised his eyebrows at

let's break free from

mom poked Mira's cheek, and the baby, not

gripping my

to live

Mi

Gregory happy, to watch

grow up."

to see Mira find

moment, a wild idea struck me, "Mom, you're free now, why not try

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

"Any age is right

shook her head, "I've been alone for so many years, I don't want someone