“Mom?” My voice came out so small I almost didn’t recognize it. I waited for any sign of movement... a twitch, a breath, anything. But there was nothing.
Her chest stayed still. Too still.
My heart stuttered. “Mom,” I tried again, louder this time, my hands shaking as I reached out and touched her shoulder. Her skin felt cool, her body slack. I gave a small shake .....nothing. My throat tightened as fear began to claw up my spine.
“Mom, please,” I whispered, shaking her harder now.
“Wake up. Please.....”
Nothing.
And then something inside me just snapped. The sound that ripped out of me wasn’t even a word..... it was raw, broken, and animal. A scream that filled the whole house, bouncing off the peeling walls, slicing through the silence that had been too heavy for too long.
The nex
