**********

“And you really love her?”

“With all my heart…” Shane answers.

Her mother can see love in the eyes of her daughter, but also lots of pain.  There’s a moment of silence in which Shane lowers her head and let the tears flow.

“…But I screwed up.” she says with a cracked voice.

“Yeah, I know the feeling,” her mom whispers looking at her hands. “But it’s not too late for you honey… It’s never too late for anyone.”

“For me it is,” Shane offers defeated.

“No.” her mother states firmly.  “You want to see an example?”

Shane just sighs.

“…Just look at us.”

Now Shane pays attention to her mother.

“See, I thought it was too late for us, honey.  I thought you’d never forgive me for what I did, and I stupidly let year after year pass ‘til… I just gave up.”

Shane lowers her head in thought.

“But…” continues the woman “…destiny had a funny way of forcing me to finally look after you… I mean, what I’m trying to say is that you shouldn’t wait to be in the same condition I am in to amend your mistakes.” the woman’s voice cracks.  “You don’t know how I regret not doing it sooner.  I waited all this time, and I lost the chance to know you better.  I…”

“Shhh…”  Shane stands up and hugs her mother, “just forget about that.  We are here now, and that’s the only thing that matters.”

The woman lets go of Shane’s embrace and looks at her.  “I don’t want you to wait more than 20 years, and wait ‘til you are dying in a hospital bed to tell the most important person in your life that you are sorry, that you made a mistake, that you want a second chance…that you love her.”

Shane stares at her

“Honey, if it wasn’t too late for us, it’s not late for you.  I’m so happy that despite being such a selfish monster, I still got the chance to see you before I…” she looks away.  “You don’t want to miss all that I’ve missed because of my cowardice!  You are better than me sweetie; you are better than your father.”