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

your mom

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

aware that my mom and I

seemed like we had moved on, the guilt resurfaced

have been avoided if we

her, and without planning, we both ended up watching baby Mira in her

out with the

met, and he subtly raised his eyebrows at

let's break free

baby, not

laughed too, gripping

to live healthily,

Mi

Gregory happy, to watch

grow up."

to see Mira find her

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

"What are you thinking? Do you think I'm like you

I argued. "Any age

head, "I've been alone for so many years,