Mary nodded and closed her eyes, drifting off to sleep. Alice sat quietly, watching her mother breathe, her heart aching. She knew the prognosis wasn't good, but Mary's spirit remained unbroken, and that gave Alice hope.
As Mary slept, Alice's mind wandered back to her work. She thought about the cases she had solved, the lives she had touched, and the battles she had fought. It was a demanding job, but one she was passionate about. And much of her strength came from the lessons her mother had taught her about resilience and compassion.
Later that afternoon, Mary woke up, and Alice helped her sit up in bed. "You look like you could use a break," Mary said, noticing the tiredness in Alice's eyes. "You've been working so hard."
"I'll rest when you're better," Alice replied with a smile. "You're my priority right now."
