A close shave

Even as Chelsea is worried about Greg she doesn't forget that today is an important day.

The first of every month she visits her mom who currently lives at the nursing home.

....

Life as a child was very tough for Chelsea. Her mother Lilian just didn't see eye to eye with Chelsea for reasons she didn't know. Growing up, Chelsea spent her life hawking on the street to feed herself. Fortunately she was very intelligent and involving in school so she won a lot of scholarships in competitions she represented for her school. Looking at her living conditions, her headmistress of her high school took her in. During all these Lilian was not interested and never cared even when officials of a competition came to her with the coupons won by her daughter, she drove them way leaving Chelsea crying at one corner. Getting a chance to leave her bitter mother she packed out without informing her mom since she never cares.

Lilian came home close to midnight, in a drunken stupor she struggled to open the door. Although drunk, there was a little bit of consciousness as she realized her room is half empty. She was quick to realize all Chelsea's belongings where not in the room including the person in question. Unperturbed, night turned to day, day to weeks and weeks to months.

One sunny day, Chelsea was going to a supermarket near her home. She used to live at a descent apartment. As she drew near, she saw a very old woman looking frail and unkempt, from afar, Chelsea was shocked.

After many years she never knew this was how her reunion with her mom would be. She stopped in front of Lilian, young lady please.... Lilian couldn't continue as tears started flowing down her old wrinkled face. She would never had thought to ever see her long lost daughter after soo many years. Crying both mother and daughter hug, Chelsea picks her mom from the place as passerbys looked on with contempt. Not minding the looks, Chelsea took her mom home tending to her like a daughter would.

Unfortunately, Lilian had being ill for long and had little time to live. Chelsea not ready to accept the truth but was told at the hospital after thorough examination that her mom had stage three lung cancer.

Not wanting to be a burden to her daughter, Lilian asked to be sent to a nursing home. Not willing to Lilian begged till she had no choice to.

Back to the present....

Chelsea makes her mom's favorite meals as she prepares to visit her.

After parking her car, she take quick steps to the reception. She is then ushered into her mother's room. Entering, she finds her mom seated in the bed looking out the window. She looks so frail like about to disappear into thin air. Chelsea leaves the things on the desk by the bed and runs to hug her mom with tears in her eyes.

Chelsea you are here, her mom says patting her back and then wiping away the tears planning to drop from her eye. I told you to stop visiting me every month.

Mom I miss you that's why, Lilian smiles bitterly as she knows this is not the reason. The both tacitly avoided saying the fact that she has few years to live.

She starts telling her mom everything going on, subsequently, her mom falls asleep. After, she covers her with a blanket, place a kiss on her forehead and leaves her to rest.

Walking down the stairs, she goes to the reception tips her for looking out for her mom. She then goes to the caretaker's office, as she gets near a familiar voice makes her stop in tracks. Instantly to hides in the exit on the left. Few seconds later, Lena seen chatting happily with the caretaker walks down the corridor.

Chelsea relieved that she hid in time else her mother will not be able to stay in this nursing home even for more than a second.