My mother died three days later.
Peacefully in her sleep. No pain at the end. Just quiet slipping away while I held her hand.
I'd stayed in Eldoria those three days. Spent time with her. Talked about everything and nothing. Made what peace we could with limited time.
Now she was gone and I felt oddly empty. Not grief exactly. More like the closing of a chapter I'd never fully read.
"The funeral is tomorrow," my father said, his voice carefully controlled. "I'd like you to speak. Say something about her."
"I barely knew her. She kept me at distance my entire childhood. What can I say that's honest but also appropriate?"
"Say she was complicated. Say she did her best in difficult circumstances. Say you respected her even when you didn't understand her."
"Is that true? Did she do her best?"
"I don't know. None of us know if we're doing our best or just convincing ourselves we are. She tried. That's all I can say with certainty."
