• "Mother, I'm home!"
    "Ah, Serine," replied a raspy and weak voice form afar. "How was your day today?"
    The of wood grinding against wood was audible in the room, signaling the opening of the front door and closing. A young woman's voice rang through the small lodging, "It went fine."
    A head appeared from the corner of a door frame opening into the room where an wooden rocking chair say in the center. The young girl's face was slightly covered when strands of dirty grey straight fell over her dazzling pale pink eyes. They had a soft touch to them, caressing the figure of her aging mother.
    Creaking was heard when the mother attempted to stand, the rocker shifting from the relief of her weight only to receive the force once more when the women stumbled. Creaking, from the rocker and also the olden wood plank floor boards, arose once more as the daughter rushed to her mother's aid.
    "Please don't try to get up." Sparkling eyes, filled with worry stared into those of similar coloration. Once, these elder pair of eyes had shone through the good and bad times of life, but now, the light that had seemed to also appear from her now dulled, her eyes becoming milky white instead of the reflective, glistening surface they once were.
    'Don't worry about me sweety, I'm much stronger than you think I am." A cheerful smile, seeming almost unchanged by the powers of Father Time, was tossed to the worried daughter as the mother released her grip from the rocker. Attempting to prove her youth, the lady held one flimsy arm up as if to flex her muscles and said, "take long for yourself."
    The daughter could not help but smile her insane parent's childish actions. This smile, however, did seem aged and burdened, not truly showing real happiness. It was only upon her face for a short while before the dreadful coughing of the mother.
    The coughing and rasping breathes continued for many more seconds, presenting themselves more as hours to the daughter. She gently settled the elder lady upon the seat of the wooden rocking chair. Once the coughing ceased, the mother's eyes were closed and her breathing returned to a normal pace. Her face seemed like a youth's, excusing the wrinkles of life that bore upon her skin. The daughter knelt beside the chair, her hand resting on one of the bony ones of her mother. The pale cherry blossom pink eyes dulled in color as they stared helplessly at the dying figure before her.
    "There isn't much time left. But until then, I promise I'll keep you safe.," was whispered from the young lady's, Serine's, mouth.