Reflections

"You asked for me?" I heard my angle's voice pierce the quiet of my quarantine room. Walking over to the widow to the other side, I watch through the fish tank Julianne unravel a thick scarf around her neck.

My mother was sitting on the couch staring blankly back at me. I almost smiled when seeing the tea kettle, two mugs, sugar, spoons, cookies, chocolates, some fruit and napkins on the coffee table. She always went over board when it came to company.

My mother broke away from her deep thoughts and patted a spot next to her. "Come and sit with me awhile."

Julianne seemed rooted in her footsteps, "Is it true what I've heard?"

My mother walked Julianne over to the couch and handed her a cup of tea. Responding back, my mother could barely hissed through her teeth, "Yes."

Julianne hands shook with the tea cup and she barely whispered. "But he's your son? You just can't-"

"I'm not," my mother replied looking at her hands morbidly. "Dan is making that decision."

Julianne's green eyes stared into her tea cup with an impassive expression. She asked, "Why?"

Tears where streaming down my mom's face, "He's gone in Dan's mind. And I'm being selfish. It's not fair to leave him there to waste away."

Grasping my mother's hand, Julianne said so certain, "He's not gone." Clearing her throat more, "It's only been two years. There are people that come out of it years later. Doesn't he deserve a chance?"

My mother nodded her head, "Always. But I can't give him that. I, I, we can't sustain his body for much longer. There's nothing more to do, but move forward."

Julianne placed her tea cup down quickly and the harsh words slipped through her lips, "I've tried moving on. I've tried dating; having a life. I've even lived by my parents wishes to not visit him for a good year. I can't do it Sylvia. We can't let Dan-"

"Listen from a mother's broken heart, it's done," she said shaking, "And at a cost. Dan's left me. I have nothing to contribute to his medical needs. I have no power of att...."

Getting on her knees to gravel, Julianne begged, "Let me pay for more then. I already have the physical therapist working on him still...."

My mother gently wiped the tear on Julianne's face, "I'm sorry."

Small whisps of hair fell into Julianne's crumbling face as she laid her head on my mother's lap. Stroking her fine hair, my mother stared back at the fish tank.

"I always envied the strong bond you had with," she choked out my name, "Tyler. He never had confidence or a serious bone in his body. But the first time he mentioned you, his eyes would shine. I'm so thankful I had someone that cherished him as much as I did."

Trying to take a deep breath of my own, my heart ached in agony to not only comfort them, but yell in rage at my father's actions.

How could he abandon my mother? How could he not believe I was still alive like they did?

Julianne's green eyes seemed to be distanced when my mother added, "But he did something to you as well. You're undying love is proof. Promise me, you won't let this destroy you."

She pulled Julianne's head up, "Tyler loved you too much to let such a unique spark burn out."