We wound up falling asleep on the couch, still holding each other. It wasn't comfortable to wake up that way, still dressed in the same clothes, sweaty, and cramped from the awkward position. I tried to disengage from her arms, and Mom woke up with a panicked expression. I kissed her gently on the lips."Relax, Mom, I'm just getting up to take a shower," I said."Oh, okay," she murmured, but she still looked reluctant to release me.After my shower, I smelled breakfast cooking. I gave Mom a big smile when I came out to the kitchen. She tried to return that smile, but it just wasn't in her. I walked up behind her and wrapped my arms around her."It's going to be okay, Mom," I murmured into her hair.We sat down and started eating when she abruptly stopped with her fork halfway to her mouth."It's not going to be okay, Paul," she said sadly. "Not here. I can't live by myself in this house. Everything I see makes me feel like a failure."I finished chewing and swallowing before I nodded.
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