The hospital smelled softer this time, like fresh sheets and lavender air freshener instead of chemicals and blood. My mother sat propped against the pillows, sunlight from the tall window spilling across her face. She looked better, stronger than when I’d first seen her awake, though her eyes still held that fragile shine, like a piece of glass that could crack at the wrong touch.I pulled my chair closer to her bed, our fingers brushing as I adjusted her blanket. For a long moment, I just stared. I hadn’t had this,her, in years. Not like this.“You’re staring,” she teased, her voice light but raspy.“Just making sure you’re really here,” I said quietly.Her smile softened. “I’m not going anywhere.”I wanted to believe that. I wanted to anchor myself in her presence, to forget about Dennis, Phantom, the flash drives and betrayals. For the first time in a long time, I felt like someone’s daughter again.We talked about little things at first, the nurses, the way hospital food still ha
Last Updated : 2025-10-12 Read more