A (VER

ok up as I rose to my feet. Although Veronica's body

mumbled

. I couldn't wait to leave this

r lips cur

ed her mother, as there were evenings when her mother would sit by her bedside and se

be asleep while her pill

clenched my soul- an emotion I had

never said out loud, but she always dreamed to be independent and ta

so much at the time of death,

e me. 'Don't worry Mom, Veronica perhaps couldn'

n on my tongue, but there was a warm

, coming to my side, "y-you

tone couldn't hide the fear in it. Th

I had never known, yet

nd added, "N-next time

I stared at t

h trembling words, w

ulous, I couldn't help feelin

e to not leave again," I said, press

me reason,

from the table, "we must return

y clearly. And that evoked some of the memories- v

ng you soon." Although the word 'mom' was too ne

are you

dly, without letting her notice

wasn't it? Then why not

___

set herself into the kitchen, preparing dinner as though she was tryi

warm scent of butter melting into mashed potatoes. Between the narrow counte

e served. "Your father might come back." Her

red calmly, pulling

en blinked. "H

my gaze to

I tipped off the debt collectors tha

ck tonight. He woul

I muttered witho

ion it. Maybe sh

rough Veronica's memor

hed potatoes with a little gravy, and some steamed vegetable

han limped to the small folding desk i

sitantly. "T-There's a

er, taking

ion worksheet- it was logic-based,

it was an eleme

g him step by step. He followed my reasoning carefully,

on, he stared at me in awe. "Th-that's ss

s, just now?" I ruffled h

m watching us. Her lips were curved against her tired face. Perh

e in a bigger house. A safer one. Where, these events wouldn't be 'once i