After crying all night, I felt like I had nothing left inside. My head throbbed, and my body ached, but I forced myself out of bed. Staying in bed all day felt tempting, but I had to see my mother. She was all I had left.
When I arrived at the hospital, the caregiver greeted me with the same update she’d given me the last few days. “Your mother still isn’t talking, but she looks better overall.” That should have been comforting, but it wasn’t. I needed more than that.
I walked into her room slowly, trying to calm my nerves. My heart pounded in my chest as I approached her bed. She looked frail but peaceful. I leaned down and pulled her into a warm hug, holding on for a few extra seconds. She didn’t hug me back, but feeling her warmth was enough. It was the only thing I had to cling to.
