“Mommy, I’m scared,”
said the little girl.
“Don’t be, honey. I’ll
be here.” She took her daughter’s hand and squeezed it.
“Does it hurt?” asked
the girl, a slight quiver in her voice.
“No, it doesn't You
won’t feel a thing.” reassured her mom. Her voice was ever so soft and gentle,
but pain was written all over her face.
“Are you sure?”
“Positive,” said the
mother, forcing a weak smile for her daughter. She took her free hand to brush
her girl’s hair to the side. The woman’s hands lingered on her head, gently
stroking the child’s cheekbone.
“I believe you,”
whispered the child. Her eyes fluttered. “Mommy?”
“Yes, dear?”
“I don’t want to leave
you,” she said, and turned her head to face her mother. Her mother looked back
at her with slightly moist eyes.
“I don’t want you to
go either,” the mom said, her voice cracking on the last word. She took a deep
breath. “But don’t forget that where you are going it will be better. You’ll be
happy there. Maybe you’ll get to have that cat you always wanted.”
“Really?”
“Really,” the mom responded. She sniffed
slightly. “Don’t forget that I love you,” she added, giving a reassuring
squeeze to her daughter’s hand.
“I love you too...”
mumbled the girl. Her breath slowed and her eyes fluttered again, only this
time, they stayed closed.
