"No, no Alice, that's enough. Yes, thank you Alice."

Frank's mother has always been difficult, but this is ridiculous!

Alice placed another sweet wrapper in her son's outstretched hand.

"Thanks mum," he replied emptily.

"For goodness sakes Neville, not another candy wrapper! The bin in over in the corner."

Alice watched her son stare at the tiny piece of paper in his palm.

I'm still here!

"Come on Neville," said Augusta.

"Yes Gran," Neville replied, and looked back down at the wrapper.

He was about to throw it in the bin when he decided against it and slipped it into his pocket.

"Neville!"

"Coming," he answered, taking one last look at his mother before turning to go.

Alice screamed. She screamed and screamed and screamed – but no sound came out. She tried running to her little boy – she wanted to envelop him in a hug, hold him and tell him it was all going to be alright. But her legs would never move. Her mouth did not open, and she stood there. Hot tears started pouring down her face, only they weren't really there.

It was like this every time her mother brought Neville to see them. She knew she would never be able to tell him how much she loved him. The pain it caused her, seeing her son walk out the door – it was unbearable. If only she could move, if she was in control of her own body… but she wasn't. She desperately tried to reach for her son… and her arm responded! It began moving upwards. Alice swelled with hope, it had finally worked! But he was already at the door and he couldn't see her. She tried to call out to him but once again her mouth didn't open. A single tear slid down her face as her arm dropped and she felt all hope leave her, replaced with an aching sadness, knowing that she would never be able to hold her son again.