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.

Villas, he skipped the office to cook dinner

your mom

cook as a way to ease the tension between my mom

that my mom

on, the guilt resurfaced every time grandma was

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

we both ended up watching baby

out with the

subtly raised his eyebrows at me, magically lifting much

break free from the chains we've put

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

laughed too, gripping my hand,

to live

Mi

Gregory happy, to watch

grow up."

Mira find her

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

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

not?" I argued. "Any age is

alone for so many years, I