The door opened, and there stood my mother, her face lighting up with recognition.
Yet, the years had etched their cruel signatures on her skin.. lines of worry, sleepless nights, and the burden of absence woven into every wrinkle.
My heart lurched in my chest as I rushed forward, tears springing to my eyes, blurring my vision. "Mom, I missed you so much…"
She enveloped me in her arms, holding me tightly as if afraid to let go, her embrace a fortress against the world's harsh realities. "I missed you too, Kristen…"
The warmth of her body was a sweet salve, a reminder of a love that had remained unwavering despite the distance between us.
Time suspended around us, and the embrace lasted longer than I anticipated. I inhaled her familiar scent, mingled with the faint trace of aged perfume and home.
In that moment, the warmth flooded my heart, chasing away the cold remnants of loneliness I had endured.
