your mother had to leave, forced to live with her sisters in her father's apartment in New York as they prepared for her inevitable death with the help of hospice care workers. It had been a stressful day, and as her sisters finally stopped arguing, she sat in front of the window, sipping coffee and trying to relax. she called her husband, asking about you and expressing her eagerness to return home to be with you both.

"my angel." she smiled, hearing your voice at the other end of the line. "yes. yes, it's me. It's mommy."