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

keep your mom

to cook as a way to ease the tension between my mom and

my mom and I blamed

had moved on, the guilt resurfaced every time grandma was

wondered if the accident could have been avoided if we hadn't thrown that party, giving Summer an opportunity to cause

ended up watching baby Mira in her crib, silent for a

Gregory came out with the

eyes met, and he subtly raised his eyebrows at me, magically lifting

break free from the chains we've

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

laughed too, gripping

live healthily,

Mi

Gregory happy, to watch

grow up."

see Mira find her own

that moment, a wild idea struck me, "Mom, you're free now, why

you think I'm like you kids, talking about falling in love?"

argued. "Any age is

head, "I've been alone for so many