May 24, 2017 --- Writer's Cramp

You expected to be sad in the fall.
You saw her, lying there, in the hospital room with the nurses. Though the room would be white, a small shadow of darkness would loom over the room with its paws creeping towards the patient. You would ask the nurse, “How long?” She would respond, “I don’t know.” That’s all they ever said. They didn’t know.
Two hours earlier, your mother was diagnosed with terminal cancer. They couldn’t figure out what it was, as it was so uncommon. Whatever it was, the disease had caused a brain tumor and several other blood clots. There was nothing anyone could do, even with the most advanced technology.
Instead of letting her die, you thought: Perhaps, if she is able, we could go back. Where? Back, back to the broken pot that your brother had shattered on accident. Back to the blooming tulips, strawberries, and the tomatoes that the caterpillars seemed to love. To the kitchen, where the fragrant smell of brownies would float in the air. To the mountains, the valleys, graduation day. You asked the doctors if she could walk, despite it being obvious that the answer was no. The obvious was correct, but your mother begged otherwise. Though the pain was unbearable, she could ignore it for a while just to be outside. She thrashed at the white coats, the red heads, even the security. You both ran.
Just outside the hospital laid a lake. The trees surrounding were glowing orange and red, and the sun was blocked by pink floating clouds. You both sat there, staring at the otters playing, and had a quick chat. You laid down, side by side, and stare at the sky, and suddenly, a light gasp was uttered, and the sun shone on the remains of two lifeless bodies, one with a nearly dead heart, the other, gone. Eventually, the doctors arrived and were apologizing. However, you were happy. As they covered her head, it almost seemed as if she twitched her lips upward as well.
At her funeral, held in the middle of fall, you didn’t cry. You smiled. For you, and only you knew how happy she was in her last moments. Only you saw her smile. Only you heard her whisper that was carried away by a soft wind.
“Rejoice, my dear, for nothing is wrong.”
And so you did.