PICTURE

I was looking at myself in front of the mirror, admiring the beautiful dress I was wearing. I took pictures, posed, twirled around, danced—I almost didn’t want to stop looking at my reflection.

I heard the door open and close, so I quickly tidied up all the things and clothes scattered around my room. Then I took a brown envelope from my bag and happily walked out of my room.

I saw Mom in the kitchen, already setting the food on the table. I slowly approached her and tapped her on the shoulder while she was busy arranging the plates she had washed.

“Look at this, Mom.”

I smiled at her as I handed her the envelope. She opened it, and as she read it, I could clearly see the happiness on her face.

“Are you proud of me, Mom?”

She hugged me so tightly, gently rubbing my upper back. I hugged her just as tightly, my heart leaping with joy.

A little while later, she had me sit down and served me some food. Everything smelled so good and freshly cooked. I immediately took a sip of the soup from one of the dishes on the table, and it was so delicious that it warmed my whole body.

You could really taste Mom’s love in everything she cooked, and I was so happy because finally, I could make it up to her for everything.

“There’s so much food, Mom,” I said as I continued eating.

“I guess you already felt the good news I was going to tell you, so you cooked this much,” I said with a smile as she smiled back at me.

I fed her a bite.

“Thank you, Mom.”

I held back the tears forming in my eyes because I didn’t want to ruin our happy moment.

“I—...” My voice was already breaking, so I bit my lip and took a deep breath before drinking some water.

“I love you, Mom. Thank you for being my Mom.”

She stood up and hugged me, then kissed me on the head. I took another very deep breath.

“I’ll make it up to you, Mommy,” I said through a sob.

“Now, I’ll be the one to take care of you,” I said with a smile as my tears began to fall.

AT THE PARK

I held Mom’s hand as we walked, admiring the beautiful scenery around us. I was so happy because, finally, I was able to do all the things I had planned with Mom.

I could take her on trips, bring her to different places, buy her expensive things, and treat her to delicious food.

“Are you happy, Mom?” I asked her, and she answered with a beautiful smile.

Every day, we did almost everything together.

Cook. Eat. Clean. Bathe. Watch different shows. Sing our favorite songs. Talk. Look back on old memories.

And all I can say is, this must be what it feels like when, finally, you’re the one taking care of the person who took care of you. When you’re the one giving everything to them.

This must be what Mom was like back then, when I was still little.

I watched Mom, clearly amazed by everything she saw. A little while later, we walked toward the train station.

When we got on the train, I noticed a mother and child. The mother was carrying her child, who seemed to be sick.

I suddenly remembered all those moments when I got sick and Mom took such good care of me. That’s why one of the promises I made to myself was that I would be the one to take care of her now, and my only wish was for her to stay strong and healthy.

Even when I have a family of my own, I will never leave or abandon her. That is my vow to myself, my goal in life.

When we arrived at our destination, we immediately took pictures for the memories, of course.

That night, we slept beside each other as usual. I held her tightly in my arms, and she held me just as tightly.

The next morning, when I woke up, I immediately got out of bed to help Mom, who was surely already preparing breakfast in the kitchen.

When I stepped out, I noticed she wasn’t there. I went outside the house, but she wasn’t there either.

“Did she go to the market already? Why didn’t she wake me up to come with her?” I mumbled to myself, still yawning.

I was about to go back inside the house when I heard the loud sound of a siren. I immediately ran toward where the ambulance was heading.

From a distance, I saw a crowd of people gathered together. I hurried over, and before I could even get close, I heard a woman’s screams and cries of anguish.

“Mooooom....” she screamed.

“Mommy.....” she screamed again as she wept.

I went closer to see who she was and what had happened. When I reached the entrance of the scene, I saw a student who looked like she was probably in high school, and in her arms was her mother, covered in her own blood.

My chest suddenly tightened, and I could barely breathe.

I slowly walked away from the scene of the tragedy and almost crawled my way back home.

When I got inside, I went straight to the kitchen to drink some water and calm myself down when I suddenly thought of Mom.

I went straight to my room to look for my cellphone and dialed her number, but the call wouldn’t go through.

I kept dialing her number over and over without stopping until I decided to leave and look for her.

As I stepped out into the living room, I looked for the house keys in the cabinet beneath the TV when I suddenly noticed a picture beside the altar.

I sat down, and the tears kept falling. I covered my mouth as I struggled to catch my breath.

“Mom, I don’t feel well.”

“Mom, I’m hungry.”

“Mom, I want this.”

“Mom, I’m coming with you.”

“What’s wrong with you, Mom? I’m already grown up.”

“Why do you keep messing with my things, Mom?”

“You’re always like this, Mom. I’m getting tired of you.”

“I’m leaving this house. You’re always so noisy now, Mom.”

“Mom, wake up.”

“Please, save my mother.”

“Mom......”

“No, Mom..... I can’t....”

In an instant, everything came rushing back to me.

I collapsed onto the living room floor, sobbing uncontrollably as I tried to relive all the happy memories, along with the painful things that had happened, while staring at the picture of Mom with her beautiful smile.