Mia and her mother had always been quite close. They shared their secrets, struggles, and joys, and were always there for each other. Mia’s mother contacted her daughter one day and informed her she was going to renovate the house, which she did every now and then because she enjoyed making both minor and major improvements to her home, and instructed Mia not to come by for a few months.

Mia’s mother called less and less, and when she did, she sounded strangely distant. Mia could tell something wasn’t right, but she was too preoccupied with her work and assumed her mother was merely exhausted from the repairs in her home. However, Mia’s weird intuition that something was wrong grew more and stronger until one day she found herself in her car, driving to her mother’s house.

When she arrived, she was met by an unfamiliar sight. The grass in the garden was overgrown. Her mother, the biggest fan of flowers and gardening, would never allow her garden look like that.Mia felt a jab in her stomach. Was she late? Was her mother in trouble? She dashed towards the house and noticed the door was unlocked, which raised another red signal because her mother never left the door open.

Inside, there was no evidence of any modifications. The home was as clean as ever. There are no paint colors, brushes, or dust.Mia began calling her mother’s name, but there was no answer. She then went upstairs and directly to her mother’s room. There, she saw the most vulnerable human being she had ever seen. Her mother was in the bed, but she did not resemble her old self.

Her once-long hair was gone, her red cheeks had grown pale, and she lacked the stamina to get out of bed. Her lips were as dry as cracked parchment, and she struggled to say Mia’s name.“Oh, honey. “I didn’t want you to find out in this manner,” she mumbled. Mia was shocked. “Mom, what’s wrong?” she inquired. “I’ve got cancer. I had been taking chemotherapy for the past few months but didn’t want to inform you since I thought I could handle it on my own.

“You worked hard for your promotion, and I…” she whispered, tears streaming down her cheeks. “I was always your rock, and I didn’t want you to see me like this…” Mia began crying. She was heartbroken by her mother’s condition, and remorse overcame her for not visiting her mother sooner, when she first thought anything was wrong. Mia grasped her mother’s hand and wrapped her in her arms, assuring her that she was now present and that everything would be okay.

She continued telling her mother how important she was to her and how she became who she was because of her. Her mother slid away as she repeatedly kissed her hands and forehead, reminding her of how much she loved her. She was suddenly gone. Mia stayed there for a long time, attempting to hold on to the warmth of her and her mother’s last hug while she sobbed.

This story serves as a reminder to constantly stay in touch with individuals we love and care about, no matter how hectic our schedules are, and to heed our instincts when they warn us something isn’t right.