Chapter 117: Leigh

Sunlight splashed on a bare arm capped with a purple sleeve covered in black dots, but that couldn't be right because I was in a grave at night, dying. A pair of vivid blue eyes met mine, framed by blonde hair. Mom. Alive.

She stood in a field bursting with sunflowers. A light breeze that smelled like flowery perfume turned her hair and fluttered the ends of her dress. She was here, with me, just when I needed her the most. Was this heaven? Was I already dead? I reached out to make her stay at my side forever, but my hands grabbed at nothing.

She started to smile, but it broke apart with the tears in her eyes. "I'm so sorry, Leigh. I've made so many mistakes."

It's okay, I wanted to tell her. But bursts of color behind my eyelids were floating in front of her, hiding her from me. Mom? Her perfume still lingered in my nose, along with the soil-scented death sentence.