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.

skipped the office to cook

your mom

as a way to ease the tension between my

always aware that my

when it seemed like we had moved on, the guilt resurfaced every time

could have been avoided if we hadn't

to her, and without planning, we both ended up watching baby

out with the dishes, he glanced

his eyebrows at me, magically lifting much of my

break free from the chains we've put

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

gripping

to live healthily,

Mi

Gregory happy, to watch

grow up."

maybe, to see Mira

me, "Mom,

Do you think I'm like you kids, talking

argued. "Any

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