"Hush Now, Baby, Don't You Cry

Shiloh walked in the house, worn and emotionally spent. She had a major case that had taken up all her time lately and had only ended that day. It had really taxed her emotionally and physically, even though she had won.

It was Mother's Day. Everything around her kept reminding her of it. Heck, she'd been defending a woman trying to keep her kids in a divorce.

Shiloh sighed. She walked over to the sofa in the living room, and collapsed into it.

Judah came in with a bag of Doritos, munching contentedly. He stopped once he saw his sister.

He looked at the clock. "You're home early."

"Yeah. Were you gonna throw a party?" She answered sarcastically.

Judah didn't seem to notice. "Pffft... Yeah, right." He rolled his eyes, with a smile. When she didn't react, he put the bag of Doritos down, leaned in the doorway and crossed his arms. "But seriously, you look wore out. What's up?"

"I just didn't feel like staying." She said vaguely.

Judah looked at her curiously. "But you love your job..."

Something snapped in her. "Why doesn't he get it?" She thought to herself, annoyed. Shiloh knew she was just taking her hurt out on Judah, but at that moment she just didn't care.

"It's Mother's Day, Judah! I want my mother!"

As soon as she said it, she regretted it. He didn't deserve that. Heck, it wasn't his fault...

Judah said nothing. He seemed quite taken back. A moment of silence passed and Shiloh buried her face in her hands.

"I'm sorry, J. I didn't mean to snap at you. I just... I just miss her. I miss them!" She started to tear up. "But I especially miss Mom today... I wish she could tell me how I'm doing and how I could be better for you... And hold me... I wish... I wish she'd hold me again and tell me everything's ok." She started sobbing. "I wish..."

Judah abruptly walked out of the room. Shiloh buried her face in her hands again and cried her heart out.

"I'm doing my best, but I should be able to do better for him! He deserves better. I suck at being a mother."

She sighed." I'm not a mother."

A gentle strumming of a guitar brought her out of her somber thoughts. Judah came into the room, softly playing his guitar.

"You know I suck at talking about feelings... So... I'm gonna sing 'em to you."

He sat on the sofa opposite of her and with a sweet, soft voice, he began to sing a Garth Brooks song, titled, "Mom."

A little baby told God,

"Hey, I'm kinda scared,

Don't really know if I wanna go down there.

From here it looks like a little blue ball,

And that's a great big place, and I'm so small.

Why can't I just stay here with You?

Did I make You mad? Don't You want me too?"

And God said, "O Child, of course, I do,

But there's somebody special, waiting for you."

Judah smiled tenderly at his sister.

Shiloh wiped away her tears with trembling hands, but she couldn't stop crying.

"Hush now, Baby, don't you cry

There's someone down there waiting, who's only goal in life

Is making sure you're always gonna be alright.

A loving angel, tender, tough and strong.

It's almost time to go and meet your mom.

You'll never have a better friend

Or a warmer touch to tuck you in.

She'll kiss your bruises, and bumps and scrapes.

And every time you hurt, her heart's gonna break."

Shiloh wiped her tears, but she just couldn't stop crying. Her heart was both breaking and overflowing at the same time.

She smiled through her tears as he repeated the chorus, pouring more feeling into each word he sung.

"So Hush now little baby don't you cry

There's someone down there waiting, who's only goal in life

Is making sure that you're always gonna be alright.

A loving angel, tender, tough and strong.

It's almost time to go and meet your mom."

Judah smirked. "Now, don't use any of these next words against me."

Shiloh smiled as he sang:

"Now when she's talking to ya,

Make sure you listen close.

'Cuz she's gonna teach you everything you'll ever need to know

Like how to mind your manners,

To love, and laugh, and dream.

And she'll put you on the path

That'll bring you back to me..."

Judah rose from his seat, guitar still in position, and brought himself over to where Shiloh was sitting

"So, Hush now, little Baby, don't you cry.

There's someone down there waiting, who's only goal in life

Is making sure you're always gonna be alright.

A loving angel, tender, tough, and strong,

Come on, Child, it's time to go and meet your mom."

He played the last notes of the song even softer still. As the music died away, Judah set the guitar down, and took Shiloh into his arms in a hug as she let the tears freely flow.

"Thank you, Judah." She whispered against his chest.

Judah smiled a tiny, little smile. "Look, Sis. I'm only gonna say this once, and if anyone ever asks I'll deny I said it."

Shiloh rolled her eyes.

"But... Um... Yeah... It's okay for you to melt down too every now and then. And uh... I know no one will ever replace Mom, and I know I can be a pain sometimes, but I also know that she'd be proud of all you've done for me."

Shiloh started to shake her head.

"Shy, I'm serious! You're just like the mom in the song to me, alright? I wouldn't trade you in for anything..."

He chuckled. "Welp... Except maybe a Mercedes Benz E 400..."

Shiloh laughed through her tears and playfully shoved his shoulder.

He laughed with her. The sad spell was broken, and the heavy air that was once there melted away in that bittersweet moment.

"Thanks, J."

He smiled, and wrapped her in his arms, rocking her gently as he hummed the song again softly. He didn't even realize he was humming it. Soon enough, he'd retreated to a dreamless sleep, with his sister in his arms.

Shiloh slept as well, and found solace in memories of the past. Tears flowed from her eyes, even in her sleep. For in her dreams, her mother was there to dry her tears.