Tangled

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162 Ava: Mom (II)

As we enter the hospital, the sterile scent of disinfectant and the hushed whispers of staff and visitors envelop us. Selene, ever attuned to my emotions, presses against my leg, offering her silent support. I reac

A few steps in, a security guard takes notice of Selene and frowns. "I'm sorry, but dogs aren't allowed inside the hospital premises."

Vanessa steps forward, her voice calm and authoritative. "This is a service dog. She's with us."

The guard glances at me, then at our bodyguards-

dressed in suits, with sunglasses, and essentially a walking cliche. His expression turns guarded and he waves us on. "Of course, my apologies. Please go ahead."

Relieved, I glance down at Selene, only to find her prancing alongside me, head high. Hey, you know service dogs aren't supposed to strut like show dogs, right?

She huffs, but stops her front-leg flicking prance.

Vanessa seems to know where to go as she navigates the maze of

corridors and several random sets of elevators.

With each step, the knot in my stomach tightens, anticipation and dread intertwined. Grateful for Vanessa's presence, I follow behind, digging my fingers into Selene's fur for comfort. Remember, she can't do anything to you, Selene whispers in my head.

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182 Ava Momin

The door to my mother's room is as mundane as any other. Brown. Silver handle. A note on the door asking to contact the nurse

before drawing labs.

Nothing that says a terrible person resides within and to beware of your heart.

My hand hovers over the handle as my heart beats loudly in my ears. Vanessa places a reassuring hand on my shoulder.

"Remember, Ava," she murmurs into my ear, "you are in control now. Your mother's power over you exists only in the past. You are stronger than you know."

Inod without glancing at her, closing my eyes and drawing in a deep, slow breath..

amount of oxygen I take in and I hold it for ten seconds

I can do this.

Vanessa, I push open

is dimly lit, the beeping of machines and a faint

of her, so vulnerable and fragile, sends a pang

can be as warm as a summer lake or as frigid as a winter sky, watch me

like she's

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The Mom

slowly, my footsteps echoing in the stillness. Selene follows close behind, her presence a constant comfort. I reach out and take my mother's

and lifeless

my voice cracking with emotion. "It's me,

I swallow hard, fighting back the

I hate her.

I hate this woman.

yet I love her with

and I wonder if it would hurt this much. had I

fighting for her life from the wolfsbane,

okay, Ava. It's okay to

a deep breath, steadying myself as I pull a chair up to the side of my mother's hospital bed. Plastic scrapes against the linoleum floor, harsh in the stillness of the room. Settling into it, I clasp my hands tig Being here is like

to see how far her

Despite the dullness in her gaze, there's a flicker of something there-a

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fierce woman I once

you want me to come? 1sk, my voice barely above a whisper. The question hangs

nothing. She simply stares at me, her expression unreadable. Then, slowly, she lifts a hand from the bed, the

hand reaches out towards my face. It's a surreal moment, one that seems to stretch on for an

A

part of me wants to recoil, to pull away from her touch, but another part-the part that still yearns

Her fingers draw closer.

this it? Is this the moment

acceptance. For a single, shining moment, I allow myself to believe that

past is left in the past, and in the

brush against my cheek, and I lean into the touch, my eyes fluttering closed.

weak slap, lacking the force and power of a healthy person, but the impact is no less devastating. My

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