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 the office to cook

keep your mom

stayed to cook as a way to ease

aware that my mom and I

seemed like we had moved on, the guilt resurfaced every

we hadn't thrown that party, giving

planning, we both ended up watching baby Mira in her crib, silent for

the dishes, he

and he subtly raised his eyebrows at me, magically lifting much of

break

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

too, gripping my hand,

live healthily,

Mi

Gregory happy, to watch

grow up."

to see Mira

a wild idea struck me, "Mom, you're

mom flicked my forehead, "What are you thinking? Do you

not?" I argued. "Any

so many years, I don't