I plodded towards the door and wrenched it open with a groan. “Becky?”
My heart was broken by the sound of my mother's frail voice. When I spotted her standing there, I gasped. She was shivering against the cold and wearing an unfamiliar black jacket. My heart dropped when I gazed over her face. Her eyes were red-rimmed, and her cheeks were bloodless and pallid. Her typically big lips appeared small and droopy, as if she'd aged 10 years in an instant.
I knew she wouldn't just show up for no apparent reason. Something had to be wrong - something really, really terrible.
“Mom?” I said hesitantly. "What are you doing here?"
Mom shivered uncontrollably. She clutched herself, wrapping her arms securely over her torso.
"Come in," I said hurriedly, placing my arm across her slender shoulders
