Mother

I walked, solemnly into Cindie’s room. We don’t talk a lot regularly, but she didn’t come to school today and I was worried.

“Cyn?” I asked, using her nickname.
”Yeah?” She asked, turning around. I looked a little closer and her eyes were red and puffy and she was clutching onto a tissue like it was her last lifeline.
“What’s wrong?” I asked, rushing to her side and sitting down next to her on her bed.
“My Mom.” She whispered.
“What about her?” I asked.
“She’s….. Dead.” Cindie said, then began sobbing on my shoulder.

My eyes widened, her mom? DEAD?
I never met Cindie and Sonali’s mother, but I heard she was a sweet and caring woman.
Oh my goodness, Poor Cindie.

I immediately grabbed Cindie and hugged her.
”Cynthia, I am so sorry.” I sniffled, using her real name.
“She was my mom, Prudence.” She sobbed into my shoulder.
“H-how?” I asked, stuttering.
Death is not one of my favorite things, and talking about it makes me scared and very depressed.

“She had very severe pneumonia.” She screamed into my shoulder. I hugged her harder.
I didn’t say anything, I just sat there, patting Cindie’s back and rocking her back and forth. I let her cry out all of her sadness.

We must have been sitting like that for 45 minutes or so, because Sonali came in the room.
“Cyn? Pru? What’s wrong?” Sonali asked.
Cindie just gave Sonali a solemn look and Sonali’s face fell.
“She’s dead isn’t she?” Sonali asked.
Cindie nodded and ran to hug her sister.

They stood in the doorway, crying and hugging each other.
If I wasn’t blinking back tears, I would have realized just how beautiful of a moment it was.

Sonali pulled back for a minute and for the first time since entering the room, she acknowledged my presence.
“Prudence, can we have a moment alone?” She asked.
I nodded and gave them both a hug, then walked out of the room and shut it behind me.

That night, I realized that I haven’t talked to my mom in 2 years. I picked up the phone and dialed the number she gave me when she dropped me off at the Orphanage.

“Hello?” A lady, I hope it was my mother, asked.
”Is Jacklynn Farrow there?” I asked.
“This is her. Who is this?” My mom asked. I smiled.
“Mom, it’s me. Prudence.” I said.
“PRUDY! I miss you terribly. How are you doing in Michigan?” She asked.
“I miss you too much! Everything here is fine, all of my sisters are amazing, and Melanie is taking good care of me.” I smiled.
“That’s great. Why did you call? Not that I’m not ecstatic to hear your voice, but I’m curious.” She asked.
“Well, two of my sisters, Sonali and Cindie, they are actual sisters. Well, sadly, their mother died earlier today…” My voice trailed off.
“That’s terrible! Tell them your father and I send our condolences.” She said, sadly.
“I will, well, after hearing that, I realized how lucky I was to have a living mother, so I called you!” I smiled.
“Aw, Well, I’ll always be here for you.” I could almost hear the smile on her face.
”So, Let me tell you how everything’s been going…” I smiled and sat down, catching up takes a lot out of you.

Here’s some advice from Prudence;
Don’t take your mom for granted, you never know when you’re going to loose her.

**Prudence..**