Not a Dream

She pulled the covers up over her shoulders and sunk down further into the bed, shivering. After what seemed to be a few moments but was much longer, she heard footsteps in her room.

Curious who was here, she poked her head out from the covers in time to see a woman disappear into the bathroom. She looked to have dark hair.

Chris waited to see who it was but the woman didn't come out of the bathroom. Soon, Chris fell asleep.

She woke up a little later. The sun was higher in the sky, it looked to be early morning. She startled when she saw the dark-haired woman sitting on the edge of the bed.

"Mom?"

Her mother smiled and gave Chris' hand a small squeeze. Chris smiled back and laid her head down on the pillow again.

End of the Road

Chris rested her head against the cool surface of the bath. Her breath still came in shuddering gasps but she had stopped crying for now.

She was scared and she was a little ashamed of this. She has some idea that she should be stronger, calmer about this. She realizes it's irrational, she wouldn't expect this of someone else - at least she hopes she wouldn't - but she does want it from herself.

She remembers earlier, when she thought her mom was here and now she wishes she were here. She wanted her right now more than anyone in the world and it wasn't fair that Saunders was here but her mom wasn't. I miss her so much. I wish she were here.

Chris closed her eyes, sighing.