What Did You Call Me

Serene dared not contemplate more about the situation. Painfully, she struggled to raise her head and look towards Molly. With a harsh, raspy voice she grimaced and urgently commanded, "Go...Go, don't worry about me!" Her vocal cords had long since been damaged. To even produce the syllables was no small feat. Molly burst out laughing before looking straight at Serene, and calling out a single word, "Mom." Serene's eyes widened, she couldn't believe her ears. Her face painted a picture of shock and surprise, "What... what did you call me?" "Mom." Molly tilted her head slightly, repeating the word. It was clearer, louder, and more resolute. Serene could no longer hold back her tears. She sobbed to the extent of exhaustion, her heart breaking into a million pieces. It was as if she needed to weep over all the injustices from the past years and express all her longing. She had thought that she would never have the chance to hear her daughter affectionately calling her Mom again. Yet, who