I hurried up the stairs I was late that day
Mum would be up waiting for me to return
I opened the door and let myself in
To my surprise she wasn’t there

Each day when I got home she’d be sitting on the chair
Surfing the television until I got there
Then I’d sit by her side and share with her my day
She would passionately hear me out, then we’d pray

I was never religious but it made her happy
So I stopped complaining and the prayers recited
We had each other I was grateful for that
So I’d thank my lucky stars for all I had

I look around the house she isn’t there
No note, no calls, I wonder she be where
Should I make some calls? Perhaps I must wait
At least an hour, she must be caught up somewhere

Has she had dinner? Will she have it with me?
I check out what is cooked, my favourite curry
There was also some dessert I loved her more for that
She took care of all my needs, likes and dislikes

I hear the door open at last she is home
She walks in with a neighbour her movements laboured
I ask what is wrong they do not pay any heed
He walks her to the bedroom I silently follow

‘What’s wrong?’ I ask, ‘Are you alright’
She looked rather pale and strangely withdrawn
‘Mum? are you ok? I’m sorry I’m late
My car got stuck on the way, so the delay’

She doesn’t reply just stares at me blank
Tears well up in her eyes and drop to her lap
Bewildered I watch her tense and upset frame
Why won’t she say anything? Now come tears to my eyes

My neighbour comes back offers her a pill
I ask him to explain but he disregards me still
He puts her to sleep as I look on
Then leaves the room for me to watch

When I awake I am sleeping all alone
I find mum in the chair, seeming vulnerable and hurt
Then I see others around, I wonder why they’re here
They seem stunned and troubled, oblivious of me

I hear a siren, everyone around stirs
My mum stays unmoved I put my arm around her
‘What’s going on mum? Why are they here?’
The door is flung open I wonder who now arrives here

The people struggle as they carry in a coffin
I watch this all dumbstruck, what’s going on here?
Mum begins to cry I try to console her
I move forth to see whose body has been brought here

I see the white dress so a spinster was she
Her gloved hands joined in prayer holding a rosary
Someone places a pillow under her head to elevate her face
I see the girl then shocked I move back
How can this be? She has my face!

This can’t be true! This is a dream!
I will wake up soon and laugh it away
I pinch myself but I feel no pain
I look back at mum, them tears on her face

I now recollect what went wrong with the car
I had lost control and swerved off the path
Into the path of a trailer I crashed head on
There were screeching tyres and the lights went out

People grieve and mourn then went their way
My mum now all alone sits by herself and prays
Tears keep rolling down as she keeps calling my name
Powerless I watch her cry and call my name