Chapter 146.

Two days remain before the new year.

The care center was quieter than usual.

Most families had already gone home for the holidays, taking their loved ones with them when they could.

The hallways that were normally filled with footsteps, conversations, nurses moving between rooms, and the occasional laughter of visitors had settled into a strange kind of peace.

Kylie walked through the entrance with a small paper bag hanging from one hand.

She had spent twenty minutes arguing with herself in the car about whether she should have brought more.

"You’re doing too much," she muttered to herself, and drew in a sharp breath.

The receptionist looked up.

Kylie smiled politely. "Morning."

"Good morning, Kylie."

Kylie nodded and continued down the hallway.

Every time she came here, some part of her still felt like she was walking into unfamiliar territory, even if she knew everyone here.

The first day Kylie had visited here, she had gone home that evening and cried until her chest hurt.

She reached her mother’s door, and stopped. Her fingers tightened around the paper bag. For a second, she simply stood there.

Then she knocked softly, and opened the door. "Hey, Mum."

Her mother was sitting beside the window.

She wore a soft green large cardigan over a pale blouse. Her silvering hair had been brushed neatly and tucked behind one ear.

She was looking outside.

Kylie paused. The winter sky was pale. There were no snowflakes, no dramatic clouds, and nothing particularly beautiful about it.

Just a quiet afternoon.

Her mother had always liked windows.

Kylie remembered that. When she was little, her mother used to sit beside windows whenever she was tired.

Kylie swallowed. She stepped farther into the room. "I brought you things."

Her mother didn’t turn around.

Kylie put the paper bag on the small table. She began taking things out. "Your favorite tea."

She placed the box on the table. "That expensive hand cream you like." She brought out another item. "And this."

She pulled out a folded sweater.

Her mother finally glanced toward her.

Kylie smiled. "It’s almost new year."

Her mother looked away again.

Kylie unfolded the sweater. "It’s cold." She held it up. "You’re going to wear this."

Her mother said nothing.

She placed the sweater on the chair.

Her mother looked at her again.

This time, her eyes lingered.

Kylie’s smile faded slightly. "How are you feeling?"

Her mother looked at her for a few seconds. Then she said quietly, "I’m fine."

Kylie froze.

Her mother had said that before. But there was something different about the way she said it. She looked almost steady.

Kylie smiled. She pulled the chair closer, then she sat, ready, attentive, and ready to listen.

For a while, neither of them spoke.

Kylie watched her mother.

Her mother watched the window. It was peaceful. Almost painfully peaceful.

Kylie leaned back. "So."

Her mother looked at her.

Kylie smiled. "Two days."

Her mother’s eyebrows drew together.

"Two days until the new year."

"Oh."

Kylie nodded. "Yeah."

She looked toward the window. "Another year."

Her mother smiled faintly.

Kylie stared at her. Then she softly looked down at her hands. Her eyes were saddened. "Do you have any resolutions?"

Her mother frowned. "Resolutions?"

"Yes." Kylie smiled. "Things you want to do next year."

Her mother thought about it. "I’d like to go home."

Kylie stopped breathing for a second.

Her mother’s eyes remained on the window.

Kylie forced a smile. "You’ll go home."

Her mother looked at her. "When?"

Kylie swallowed. Her voice shook. "When you’re ready."

Her mother nodded.

"I’ll make sure of it."

Her mother studied her face. Her brows furrowed. "Are you alright? You look really sad."

Kylie’s lips trembled. She clenched her fists, and took in a deep breath. She blinked rapidly, and looked around to take her eyes off her mother.

Her mother looked confused by her reaction. "Are you alright, Khy?"

Kylie’s heart began beating harder. No one calls her Khy except her mum. And she hasn’t heard that name for the past six years.

"Are you alright?"

Kylie smiled nervously. "I am." She sat back. "It’s okay."

She didn’t want to get excited. She had learned. She had learned not to grab at every little hope her mother threw at her.

She had done that before, and it had hurt.

She took a slow breath. "Anyway." She reached for her phone. "I have pictures."

Her mother looked at the phone.

Kylie smiled.

Her mother returned the small smile to her.

Kylie smiled back, and unlocked her phone.

"Look." She turned the screen toward her.

It was a picture of Emilia.

Emilia was standing in the university courtyard, smiling at the camera.

Kylie smiled. "That’s Emilia."

Her mother looked at the picture. "Your friend?"

"You don’t remember her?" Kylie’s smile disappeared.

She stared at her.

Her mother looked at her with quiet curiosity.

Kylie swallowed.

"Yes." Her mother looked back at the screen. "She’s pretty."

Kylie smiled faintly. "She is." She scrolled. "This is us."

A picture of Kylie and Emilia appeared.

Her mother looked at it. Then at Kylie.

"You look happy there. More happy than you are here with me. What happened?" She searched Kylie’s eyes. "Are you not happy to be here?"

Kylie stared at her mother. For a moment, she didn’t know what to say. Then she smiled softly.

"No, Mum."

Her mother watched her carefully.

"I’m happy to be here with you."

Her mother’s expression softened.

Kylie reached across the space between them and took her hand. "I just miss you sometimes."

Her mother’s fingers curled gently around hers. "I’m still here," she whispered.

Kylie’s eyes immediately filled. She nodded quickly, looking down at their hands. "I know." she sniffed.

Her mother squeezed her hand. "Please don’t look so sad when you’re with me."

Kylie let out a tiny laugh through her tears. "I’m trying, Mum."

Her mother smiled faintly.

Kylie lifted their joined hands and pressed them against her cheek. "I’m okay, Mum," she whispered. "Really. I’m okay here with you."

Her mother studied her face for a long moment. Then she brushed her thumb gently across Kylie’s cheek.

"My lady."

Kylie’s breath caught. She stared at her.

Her mother’s laugh softly.

She hadn’t heard it like that in a long time. Kylie’s eyes burned. She looked down quickly.

Her mother noticed. "Are you crying?"

"No."

"Khy."

Kylie laughed shakily. She felt so filled with exictment. Her mother completely remembered her. "I’m not crying."

Her mother reached toward her.

Her fingers touched Kylie’s hand.

Kylie went completely still.

Her mother’s hand was warm, gentle, and familiar. Kylie looked down at their hands. Her mother squeezed her fingers.

"You’ve always been a terrible liar." Her mother smiled.b"You’ve always been terrible at lying to me."

Kylie’s lips parted. "Mum?"

Her mother looked at her.

Kylie searched her face. "Do you know me?"

Her mother’s expression changed. "Of course I know you."

Kylie’s face crumpled. She covered her mouth. A sob escaped before she could stop it.

Her mother squeezed her hand. "Kylie."

Kylie immediately moved closer.

She dropped to her knees beside the chair and wrapped both arms around her mother’s waist.

Her mother stiffened for half a second. Then her arms slowly came around Kylie, and Kylie finally broke down.

She cried against her mother’s chest.

Her mother stroked her hair. "It’s okay."

Kylie shook her head. "No." Her voice cracked. "No, it’s not."

Her mother held her tighter.

Kylie clung to her. "You remember me."

Her mother closed her eyes.

Kylie pulled back. Her face was wet. She looked almost disbelieving. "You really remember me?"

Her mother smiled. "You are my daughter."

Kylie stared at her. "You have no idea how much I’ve wanted to hear you say that."

Her mother brushed a tear from Kylie’s cheek.

Kylie’s throat tightened.

Her mother looked toward the window, and then looked back at her. She touched Kylie’s cheek.

"You are difficult to forget."

Kylie looked down.

Her mother squeezed her hand. "How long have I been here?"

"Almost six years."

Her mother touched her hair. "Come here."

Kylie moved closer.

Her mother kissed her forehead. The gesture was so familiar that Kylie almost cried again. "You’re still my baby."

Kylie closed her eyes. "I’m twenty-one."

"I don’t care."

Kylie laughed. She rested her head against her mother’s shoulder.

For a while, they stayed like that. Then her mother spoke. "How is school?"

Kylie lifted her head. "School?"

"Yes."

"It’s..." She swallowed. "Complicated."

Her mother smiled. "Are you happy?"

Kylie hesitated.

The question caught her off guard.

"Sometimes."

"That’s not an answer."

Kylie looked at her.

Her mother waited.

"I’m happy when I’m with Emilia." Kylie smiled faintly. "I think I’m getting there."

Her mother nodded.

"What about you?"

Her mother smiled. "I am happy you’re here."

Kylie’s eyes stung again. "You’re going to make me cry again."

Her mother laughed.

Kylie reached for the paper bag. "I brought you something else."

Her mother raised a brow at her, looking suspicious.

Kylie smiled. She pulled out a small box.

Her mother opened it.

Inside was a simple bracelet.

Her mother stared at it.

Kylie smiled. "I saw it and thought of you."

Her mother touched the bracelet. "It’s beautiful."

"Do you like it?"

"Yes."

Kylie took it out. "Give me your hand."

Her mother did.

Kylie carefully fastened it around her wrist. Then she looked at it. "Perfect."

Her mother smiled.

A small silence followed.

Then her mother asked, "Do you remember the blue dress?"

"What blue dress?"

"The one I wore when you were little."

"Which one?"

"The one you hated."

Kylie stared at her. Then her eyes widened. "Oh my God." She giggled.

Her mother smiled. "The sleeves." She reminded.

"The sleeves were horrible."

"They were beautiful."

"They were enormous, Mum."

Her mother laughed. "You said I looked like a curtain."

Kylie covered her face. "I was a terrible child."

"You were honest." Her mother looked at her. "I wore that dress because you asked me to."

Kylie stopped laughing. "What?"

"You told me I looked beautiful in blue." Her mother’s smile softened. "So I wore it."

Kylie stared at her softly. "I don’t remember that."

"You don’t remember everything either." Her mother reached up and touched Kylie’s hair. "You had this same expression when you were little."

She went on. "That little crease between your eyebrows."

Kylie frowned deliberately. "Like this?" She smiled.

Her mother touched the tip of her nose. "Exactly."

Kylie smiled.

Then she leaned closer. Her voice turned quiet. "Do you remember Dad?"

The moment the question left her mouth, the room changed.

Her mother’s smile disappeared.

Kylie immediately regretted asking. "You don’t have to answer."

Her mother looked toward the window. "I remember enough."

Kylie swallowed. "Okay."

Her mother turned toward her. "Every memory is not kind."

Kylie nodded.

"But I remember you."

Kylie squeezed her hand. "That’s enough."

Her mother nodded this time.