-Anastasia-
I felt a hand stroke my hair, and I opened my eyes to find my mother awake and sitting on the hospital bed, gazing at me with a radiant smile.
“Mom!” I exclaimed happily and sat up.
She let out a joyous laugh, something I hadn’t heard in years, as she hugged me. I continued to cling to her warm body, only to notice she felt different. She wasn’t as thin, and when I pulled back, I noticed the healthy glow she had gotten.
“I’m dreaming, aren’t I?” I questioned.
She continued to smile at me, stroking my hair back.
“Does it matter?” she inquired.
“Mom, I need you,” I pleaded.
“No, you don’t. You need only that inner fire you have always had.”
“No, that’s not true. Mom, you can’t leave me too!” I implored.
“Ana…”
“Please!”
“Ana, you can’t see right now what you have arou
