The Christmastime Session, by Mark Tulin – Friday Flash Fiction
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The Christmastime Session, by Mark Tulin
"It always hurts around Christmastime," Libby told her therapist. "That's when my mother passed away. She died alone."
Libby looked at the therapist for a reaction, but she was strangely reserved.
"My mother always said that you know a person loves you when they're there for your final breath," said a distraught Libby. "Do you agree, Dr. Lawson?"
Again, the therapist didn't speak, which told Libby that her guilt was justified; not being with her mother on her deathbed was unforgivable.
Dr. Lawson remained silent, but it was unintentional. She was thinking of her own guilt issues with her mother.
Crow On The Wire 
Very apt story for our times. The tragedy of our times is that death by the coronavirus makes it difficult to be physically present when our mother and other loved ones take their final breath.
Yes, Rosaliene, I’m glad you mentioned the pandemic here. It certainly factors into it big time.