Behind Those Words

Lily's eyes widened in surprise as she exclaimed, "Mom!" She hadn't expected her mother to show up, and the sight of her was nothing short of shocking. It had been two weeks since they last saw each other, and guilt washed over Lily as she realized she hadn't visited her mother during that time. Life had been busy with all the changes, but even so, she had been neglecting the one person who had always been there for her.

Her mother's unexpected appearance left Lily momentarily speechless. She felt a twinge of guilt for not making more time to visit, but she also couldn't ignore the frustration building inside her. While she appreciated her mother's care, the intrusion felt unsettling—especially at a time when Lily and James had been looking forward to some quiet moments together.