"I Love You"

The crisp morning air rushed past her face, swaying the tendrils of blond hair that had escaped the confines of her ponytail. Sweat dripped down her face rolling down her neck and into the fabric of her grey t-shirt. Her lung ached with the lack of sufficient oxygen; the muscles in her chest stretched painfully to make more room for her expanding lungs. Her legs had been sore for the past few miles and the tenderness of her thighs was now hindering her well-maintained speed. She knew she had crossed her limits today when she couldn't find it in herself to stand after she stumbled over a fallen log. Panting and wheezing she somehow managed to sit upright. The sky had started to brighten up and she knew she had to keep going or else she'll miss the best sunrise, so with a grunt, Caroline pushed herself off the ground and back on her feet. Dusting off her shorts, she kept moving forward, though now at walking speed only.

She hadn't been able to sleep well lately, hence these morning runs, which have been helpful enough to tire her out to get a quick refreshing nap in the afternoons and she needed her naps. Desperately. Or she won't be able to accomplish all that her days demand of her lately.

Coming up near the cliff, Caroline could see that she had made it just in time. The sky had just turned the most beautiful shade of violet to welcome its brightest most beloved star. With her heart still racing and her blood pumping vigorously throughout her body, she took a deep rejuvenating breath just as the first rays of sunlight greeted the earth and the sky turned into a canvas with a striking myriad of pinks and purples. This was one of the moments where it felt like she could relax, could breathe, and just be, even if only for a moment.

When the sun rose higher and the sky lost its magical colors, Caroline knew it was time to leave. She took one last deep breath, trying to imbibe this peace deep into her bones, before turning back to jog her way home.

Her mother's cruiser was still in the driveway when she finally reached home, letting her know that she had come back sooner than usual. She scoured through the mail and packages and made her way up to the house passing by the new blooms in her garden. The cool fresh air mingled with the sweetness of gardenias and lilies pulled a smile at her lips.

The house was quiet when she entered, a usual in Forbes' residence and she made her way to her room for a much-needed shower.

An hour later the aroma of coffee and eggs greeted her as she made her way into the kitchen where the strangest sight of her mother bent over a pan of sizzling vegetables met her vision. She wasn't dressed in her uniform either. Her blond hair wasn't tamed by gel. She was still in her nightgown.

What was going on?

"Oh! Good morning, Caroline!" Elizabeth greeted her daughter with a nervous smile when she spotted her standing at the doorway. She turned her attention back to the pan as she spoke, "I just brewed a fresh pot. Why don't you grab a cup? This will be done in a minute."

Caroline was so shocked by the unusual sight in front of her that she did just that. Sitting down at the table with her coffee, she watched as her mother fussed around and prepared her a plate. She stacked a good enough pile of eggs and vegetables, placed it before her, and then sat down with one of her own, all the while avoiding directly looking at her. She quietly dug into her own breakfast and so Caroline followed suit, not wanting to disturb whatever weird miracle was taking place before her eyes. She couldn't remember the last time they had had a meal together. Her mother was out of the house before she returned from her morning jogs and usually arrived so late that she couldn't drag on the night any longer with any more chores or homework. She didn't even know her mother's meal times anymore or if she even had regular designated times for meals.

"So, it's the first day back to school. Are you all prepared?" Elizabeth asked her daughter. Caroline, startled for a moment just nodded. She nodded back, unsure of how to talk to her own daughter. She remembered Caroline being very chatty during meal times like she had to narrate every plan of the day and every thought that crossed her mind during meal times, so much so that meals were usually extended longer than it took anyone to eat just so her daughter can say all that her heart felt on the day. The frigid silence revealed that the chasm between them was larger than she had realized.

Done with her breakfast and the silence permeating the kitchen, Caroline got up to place her dishes in the sink, "How is work these days Mom? Are you going to have some time to yourself now? You have been working way too hard in that place." She babbled for lack of better topics. Work was always a safe subject with her mother.

"Umm, work.. yeah I don't think I am having any breaks anytime soon. They found a car just outside the town, the occupants were found dead at some distance." Elizabeth informed her of the accident the town was buzzing about. Caroline sat back at the table, feeling a pit form in her stomach as she asked about the people. "It was a couple returning from some concert. We are keeping the names in a wrap for now, don't want the reporters sniffing around just yet," her mother replied.

Shocked by the news she sat stunned, mulling over all the possibilities.

Who were they? Was it someone from town? Someone she knew? Was it an accident? Her mother's unwillingness to disclose more information about the incident indicated otherwise. Was her mother safe out there investigating such things? Were she and her friends safe? Her mind quickly sank into the same dark murky place that has haunted her for the past four months, going over every awful scenario possible. With her heart pounding and ears ringing, she felt the firm pressure of her mother's hand on her own. The reassuring grip made her look up at her mother, into those cerulean eyes so similar to her own, giving her the strength to try to grasp onto reality.

"Hey! It's okay. You are safe. Calm down."

The words allowed her heart to return to its normal pace and then embarrassment to flush her face.

What was wrong with her? She needed to get a grip on herself. If she loses her cool on such small matters how was she supposed to hold others up? Elena was going to be at school today and would need all the support she can get to get through her first day back to school. She can't allow herself to be so weak.

"I am okay now," she reassured her mother, squeezing her hand back for good measure, before getting up to collect her bag in order to avoid her worried gaze. " I should get going."

Elizabeth watched as her daughter visibly pulled herself together in front of her as if she couldn't ever relax and allow herself to just be, not even in front of her own mother.

"Wait a minute," she called out, moving towards the cabinet at the far end to retrieve a box. She turned back to see Caroline standing tall and unmoved as if she hadn't been shaking all over just a moment ago.

"It's a family heirloom. Your Granny always talked about passing it down to you but her stuff was really unorganized and after everything, it just slipped my mind."

Caroline received the beautifully carved redwood jewelry box with golden engraving. It revealed a beautiful gold ring. It was small, a thin band with a small round red stone in the middle.

"I know I have been a very neglectful parent Caroline. You think we have all the time in the world and then one day you see that life happened around you and you were never there to live it. I don't want to do that with you darling. I don't want to miss out on my daughter anymore."

Caroline looked on as her mother got teary-eyed holding onto her hand and confessing what she believed to be her mistakes. Her chest felt tight. Her mother was looking at her, seeing her. She had hoped for her mother to see her for the longest time and now that it was actually happening, she didn't know what to do.

"I hope I am not too late, I hope that didn't lose you as well", she choked on her words and Caroline gathered her mother in her arms, trying to comfort the woman who she has always seen as the picture of strength. She knew the divorce had been hard for her mother and it was even harder for her to accept her inability to deal with it all so she knew her mother was sincere in her efforts to make up for it and that was all she could ask for.

"It's okay Mom, you can never be too late. You're my mother, my family." She reassured, patting her back in comfort. Pulling away from the hug her mother smiled shakily composing herself into the iron lady Caroline sees facing the world.

"I hope you can wear it every day. It would mean a lot to your Granny and me."

"Of course," she said, putting it on. Her mother smiled brightly and Caroline knew she was never taking it off.

"I should get going now or I'll be late."

"of course, take care. And I will try to make it home early and maybe we can have dinner together?"

"Sure, Mom" she smiled moving towards the door.

"And, Care" her mother called. She turned to see the most tender hopeful smile stretching her mother's lips before she said, "I love you, always remember that."

A smile spread across her lips as well, maybe the most genuine one in a long time, "I know mom. Never doubted that for a minute. "

With a smile she bounded towards her jeep, her steps feeling light with an excited bounce. She was looking forward to her day now.

Maybe the peace will last longer this time.