Author's Notes: Originally posted March 25, 2008 at the LJ drabble community iyissekiwa. Prompt: Green. I found some old notes and I thought I'd take my chances at a drabble. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: Inuyasha is not mine.
Rating: PG
Summary: The day her husband died was the day Mama Higurashi learned to suffer in silence.
Always the Strong One
The day her husband died was the day Mama Higurashi learned to suffer in silence. Raising two young children after their father's death left no time for mourning. In over seven years she hadn't shed a tear, and here she was crying--sobbing--uncontrollably over spilt milk.
She had watched in horror as the forest green mug (her husband's favorite) plummeted to the tiled floor, her heart breaking for the third time in her life as the ceramic exploded.
Mama's heart broke for the first time when her husband passed away.
Mama's heart broke for the second time, when Kagome, on her fifteenth birthday, fell down the well.
The front door slammed open.
"Mama!" Kagome's voice echoed down the hall. "Mama, I'm home!"
With a startled breath, Mama passed a palm over tear-stained cheeks.
"Mama?"
"Oh, Kagome," Mama's voice was rough and raw, but stronger than she expected. "You're home early. I didn't expect you until tomorrow."
"Inuyasha pissed me off." Her daughter supplied, eyeing the broken ceramic. Mama gingerly began to pick up each piece. Milk oozed over the kitchen floor. "Are you alright?"
"Yes, dear, I'm fine." She paused, inhaling. "I'm fine."
She had to be.