This Mother's Choice

by kzal

We arrange our memories to suit ourselves. That's what the doctor told us about Sarah. A story of loss, told in 13 drabbles.

10. Cliché

Cliché

Five months later, Robert leaves me for his secretary. So cliché. Noelle doesn't care.

Two weeks later we visit Sarah; I suppose it's just routine, now. When I see her, she grabs both my hands in hers and says, "I'm sorry," like she knows, even though I didn't tell her. When we say goodbye she takes Noelle's face in both hands and kisses her forehead like a benediction.

Noelle meets her eyes, and says, "I know."

On Noelle's thirteenth birthday, I go to wake her, and find her dead, cold.

And remember Sarah's strange behavior, when I saw her last.