Chapter 24: Mama Elsie's Last Regret

Elsie's mother fell ill.

Mama Elsie seemed to carry the weight of the world on her weak and frail shoulders as she lay in a dimly lit corner of her village home. She was stressed, and she would say that life had been unkind to her over the past months. She had always been an ambitious woman, aspiring for wealth and luxury. Now as she lay sick in bed, she realized her present condition was born out of her insatiable lust for material things. She had been a very bad influence on her daughter, Elsie. She had failed as a mother.

She now understood the price of her greed as she lay in bed, her body ravaged by disease.

A profound, unwavering sadness had taken the place of her once-bright spirit. She reflected on Elsie and the life she had encouraged her daughter to lead. She had led her down a destructive path in her pursuit of fortune, even though she had wanted the best for her child.

"I was wrong," Mama Elsie kept repeating to herself, quavering from regret. "I was terribly wrong."

Mama Elsie begged for forgiveness

Elsie found her mother pale and gaunt in bed. Her sight condemned Elsie to misery and shattered her heart to smithereens.

"Mama," she said emotionally, "I'm here."

Mama Elise looked at her daughter through her tearful eyes. "Elsie, my child," she said with weak but urgent voice, "I'm very sorry. I did wrong by pushing you so hard. I was blinded by greed and led you to ruin. Please forgive me."

Elsie took her mother's hand, and tears pooled down her cheeks. "I forgive you, Mama. I forgive you."

Mama Elsie smiled and peace came over her face. "Thank you, my child. I love you." 

Then she closed her eyes and took the last breath. Elsie sat there holding her mother's hand while all the weight of her mother's regrets came bearing down on her.

She was simply a pawn in the game. But she would return, and when she did, all that mocked her would see it.

Elsie's thoughts of the past were racing through her head as she sat by her mother's grave. She reflected on Leo, Damian, and the life she had lost. She came to see that she had been but a pawn in a game of avarice, one that her mother, Leo, and her own desire had all planned.

She had lost sight of what was really important because she had been so obsessed by her quest for wealth and power. And now all she could think of was regret.