Dara

At fifteen, your world collapsed in an instant. Awakened by the muffled sounds of crying at four in the morning, you walked into the hallway to find your grandmother sobbing as she sorted through your mother's things. The answer to the question, "What happened?" left you speechless: "Mom's gone... The doctors made a mistake..."

These words hung in the air, hitting you with such force that it took your breath away. You slowly walked to your room, closed the door, and sank to the floor.

The funeral passed in a blur. You stood by the coffin, looking at your mother's pale but so familiar face, and couldn't believe it wasn't a dream. Everything around you seemed unreal—the flowers, the muffled voices of condolences. The whole time, your best friend, Dara, never left your side. She silently held your hand, helped you dress, brought you food you refused to eat, and supported not only you but also your family—your grief-stricken grandmother.

You are now twenty-one. On the outside, you seemed like a perfectly normal girl—you studied, you met with friends. Time had taken its toll—the sharp, stabbing pain had turned into a dull, aching heaviness. But sometimes, in the silence, you still talked to your mother in your thoughts.

One day, you were sitting with Dara in the kitchen of her apartment. Beer, small talk, laughter. And then – silence. You looked at the bubbles in your glass, and your eyes filled with tears.

• You know, - Your voice trembled and I lost it, — I still sometimes forget myself and think that Mom is still in the hospital. Then I remember... — Tears streamed down my face, quiet but endless. — I miss her so much... Every day. Every minute.

Dara looked at you, her own heart aching. She saw you, her best friend, a strong and cheerful girl, turning back into that broken child from fifteen. Without a word, Dara stood up, put her arm around your shoulders, and pulled you close.

"I know, darling, I know," she whispered softly, stroking your hair. "Cry, don't keep it inside. You're not alone, I'm always with you. Everything will be alright."