I'm not ready for this. Was the only thought that repeated itself over and over, engraving itself into Maura's brain. I'm really not ready for this; she's still just a baby. Lorelei had her stuff all packed up waiting by the front door, her bedroom was vacuumed and left immaculate for any visits she may have. Eighteen years flew by way too fast for Maura's liking and hoping to put it off for as long as she could, she started talking. "Don't forget to stop for gas before hitting the highway, there's an extra couple hundred in your bank account just in case, and a fifty in your wallet. Don't forget to call as soon as you get there, and get to know your class mates! And-" Lorelei interrupted her mother before she could continue on, "Mom, it's okay, I have everything ready and under control... Please don't cry." She stated, wiping a stray tear from her mother's face.
"I'm just going to miss you so much." Maura said, looking away, unable to keep the tears from falling.
"It's okay to be upset Mommy, I love you okay?"
"I love you too, baby. Just please don't forget to remember us here at home."
"I could never forget you guys. Never in a million years. I'm just sorry that everyone had to miss my leaving."
"They would be here if they could."
"I know they would… Tell them I'll see them in the fall? And give Ma a kiss goodbye for me?"
"I'm sorry she had to work baby, but I'll tell them, and I will definitely give your mother a kiss goodbye for you. I'm just glad I got to see you off, I couldn't miss it for anything."
"I know mom, thank you. You know, if the world had a mother like mine I doubt there would be any crime for Ma to solve."
Maura wrapped Lorelei in a tight embrace, not wanting to let go. She would miss her eldest child's sweet words, warm embraces, and kind smiles. She would even miss the arguing that sometimes occurred. She kissed her daughter's temple and played with soft golden curls, knowing she wouldn't get this chance again for a long time.
"Work hard baby, work hard, smile big, and never let anyone crush your dreams. Give with your whole heart, and know that if you ever need it, we will all come get you. I can talk to you whenever you need it, just call. Don't be afraid to show the world what you're made of, okay?"
Lorelei smiled at her mother's words, knowing they came from her heart and nowhere else. "I'll remember that mom, and I promise to call you as often as I can. 'I won't run when bullets chase me, I won't rest where arms embrace me, I will love when people hate me, I won't hush no you can't make me, send the dark but it won't break me, you can try but you can't change me, Take my life they will replace me, I won't hush no you can't make me, I won't hush, no we will sing'."
Maura smiled at her daughter's quote. "Listening to 'The Band Perry' again I see. Please do run when bullets chase you."
Lorelei couldn't help the smile that played on the corners of her lips, she really liked the band. "I promise if someone is shooting at me, that I will in-fact run, okay? I don't want you guys to have to visit me in the hospital."
"And we don't want to visit you there!"
"I know, mom"
"Well… I guess this is goodbye…" Tears started to pour making it hard for Maura to see her daughter's reaction. But she felt the tight hug and the wet spots forming on her blouse.
"Goodbye mom, I'll miss you and everyone else okay? Tell Jackson to be good, and Michael too, tell Sophia to join a club or something, and tell the twins to have each other's backs. Tell Nona that I'll miss her; maybe I'll even call her. And one last thing, I'll always be you and Ma's little girl, don't forget to remember me." With that she gave her mom one last kiss goodbye, a tight hug, and a farewell smile. Then she got into her Kia Forte and drove away, out of Maura's view.
Tears fell quickly, and made a wet assault on the sidewalk. She walked as quickly as she could into the house, sending her daughter one last text for her final goodbye.
"Don't forget to remember me. I love you – Mom."