Memories of my mother flooded my mind. She had been a pillar of strength and tenderness, a beacon of light, but she passed away when I had still been just a child.

The pale neon light flickered, as I tried to summon the image of her face

Her smile had been so radiant, it could have brightened even the darkest of days. Her laughter had been infectious, resonating with a melody that could instantly chase away my fears. She had spoken with a charming French accent that had made me dream of faraway places, and she had possessed this incredible ability to make everything feel alright, as if her mere presence had been a comforting embrace that shielded me from the world’s troubles – until she had become sick. Lung cancer. There had been nothing they could do.

I sprinted down the corridor, my footsteps echoing loudly in the empty hallway.

My father had been a serious and righteous man, every day setting an example of how he believed life was meant to be lived. But around my mother, he would loosen up and come out of his cocoon. And completely smitten, he had done his best to please her. For him, I had been one of those things that pleased her. When she had died, he had sent me to my mom’s sister – Renee, in Paris, so he could mourn my mother in solitude. Not long after, he had taken his own life, unable to go on living without her. Depending on the day, I found it either selfish or romantic.

My heart sank, and my legs threatened to give way beneath me. Tina was pacing up and down as I approached the emergency room. The last days Renee hadn’t been fit as before, but it seemed to be part of the up and downs of her illness. That morning, Tina had been working from home. And as she told me over the phone, Renee had started to cough. Tina had given her water. The coughing had gotten worse, leaving her out of breath. Tina had called the doctor and by the time the ambulance came, Tina had said, Renee had been blue. ’How is she?’ I asked, while imagining a cluster of doctors and nurses huddled together around Renee, behind one of the doors. I had to stay strong, but the fear was overwhelming.