The sound of boiling water gurgled softly.
Harlyn stood on a stool, just tall enough to reach the stove.
Clack.
Clack.
Clack.
She sliced a carrot with careful concentration.
The knife moved slowly.
The slices were… uneven.
“Ouch—”
The knife clattered to the floor as Harlyn pulled her hand back.
A thin cut crossed her finger.
Red welled, then dripped.
Instinctively, she turned around.
“Mom…”
…
Her head lowered.
Slowly, she turned back to the stove.
Harlyn sucked on her bleeding finger, sniffed once, then picked the knife up again.
Clack.
Clack.
***
A pot of soup now sat on the table.
Or rather—
a pot of hot water with vegetables floating inside…
Harlyn ladled a bowl for her mother first.
Then one for herself.
“Enjoy your meal, Mom!” she said brightly.
She lifted her spoon.
Slurp—
…
The spoon lingered in her mouth.
Her face twisted.
Harlyn forced herself to chew the potato.
Gulp.
…
“Hic—hic—”
Her breath hitched as sobs surged up all at once.
She reached desperately for the glass beside her.
Gulp.
Gulp.
After swallowing the burning lump in her throat, Harlyn turned her head.
Meryl hadn’t moved.
The spoon was still untouched.
The bowl still full.
Mom… why aren’t you eating?
Realization struck.
“Oh—right. I’m sorry, Mom…”
Harlyn dragged her mother’s bowl toward herself, using all her strength—
she crushed the vegetables with the spoon until they dissolved into mush.
Then she pushed the bowl back.
This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.
“Here, mom.” Harlyn said proudly. “You won’t choke.”
…Nothing changed.
The same vacant face.
The same unmoving body.
Harlyn frowned, lost in thought.
Or maybe…
Maybe Mom is too hungry to eat by herself!
She tilted her head and smiled.
“It’s okay, Mom. Let Harlyn feed you!”
She reached out with the spoon—
“Hnngh…”
But her arms were too short.
She stopped.
Without hesitation, she pushed the dishes aside and climbed onto the table.
Now the spoon hovered right in front of Meryl’s lips.
Still—no reaction.
“Mom… please eat…”
Her voice cracked.
Harlyn lowered her head.
Then—
“Ah.”
She looked up.
“Ahh~” Harlyn opened her mouth wide, demonstrating.
Slowly—miraculously—Meryl's pale pink lips parted slightly.
She mimicked Harlyn.
“…Ah.”
Harlyn froze.
Then she smiled wide.
“Ahh~”
She kept humming softly until the spoon slid gently into her mother’s mouth.
Only then did Harlyn close her own lips.
“Mmmp.”
Gulp.
***
The sky outside had turned orange.
Swish.
Swish.
Harlyn swept the floor with careful focus.
…
Then—
A pale yellow puddle spread across the wood near her broom.
Her breath caught.
The trail led to Meryl.
“Mom…”
Why didn’t you tell me…?
Harlyn gently helped her mother up, guiding her toward the bathroom.
***
Steam drifted into the air.
Harlyn stood soaked, sleeves heavy with water.
In front of her, Meryl sat curled in the small wooden bath.
Scrub.
Scrub.
Harlyn washed her mother’s hair with grave seriousness, tongue peeking out slightly in concentration.
Hale’s voice echoed in her head.
First the back of the head.
Then the nape.
Don’t forget behind the ears.
Her small hands moved gently through her mother’s hair.
…
And the most important part—
Harlyn climbed into the cramped bath with her.
She sat close, quietly admiring her mother’s face.
the bang.
She thought for a moment.
Then nodded solemnly to herself.
***
The living room was lit only by the hearth.
Meryl sat at the table.
Harlyn lay nearby, face-down on the floor, reading.
A small yawn escaped.
But it wasn’t Harlyn’s.
“You’re right, Mom,” she said softly.
“We should go to bed now.”
She closed the book at once and stood.
***
Harlyn pulled the blanket up carefully.
Meryl lay still, eyes fixed on the ceiling—far away.
Harlyn suddenly hugged her.
“Mom… don’t give up.”
She pressed her face into her mother’s chest.
“I know you’re still there.”
“You have to hold on.”
Her voice trembled.
“We’ll figure this out together…”
