Steemit Challenge s28wk2: Remembering Through Healing |

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The departure of a loved one only strengthens the feeling of love, that's what Tina feels now. She feels Khalil Gibran was right: "And ever has it been that love knows not its own depth until the hour of separation."

All the memories with her mother now resurface. Whatever Tina does, even when she's doing nothing, the memories grow deeper, like a tree that continues to grow, grow, and grow.

At home, she does the chores her mother used to do. When she cooks, she remembers her mother. How the woman who gave birth to her multitasked in the kitchen. Her mother cooked, and while the food cooked, she washed the dishes, answered the phone, took care of Stephanie's meal, and many other tasks were completed almost simultaneously.

Just like any normal human being, her mother had two hands, but she was capable of completing thousands of tasks at once. Tina didn't realize it at the time, or rather, didn't care. But now, everything resurfaced in her mind, like an old movie being replayed. Not a black-and-white film like the memories of the past often portrayed, but a colorful, yet heartbreaking memory.

Tina was now repeating what her mother had done. Cooking, cleaning, answering unimportant phone calls, but not feeding Stephanie. Stephanie was no longer home when Tina returned. Perhaps she left because she couldn't live alone, or someone else took her in, or maybe...

"Maybe she died after Mommy died," Tina thought to herself. This thought made Tina even sadder, even though Stephanie, who wasn't born to her mother, was more loyal to her mother than she was.

Tina felt she couldn't stand living in this house any longer. All the memories were destroying her. Perhaps it would be better to sell the house, along with all the memories within, as Lucifer's song, "House for Sale," suggests.

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That morning, Tina went out to meet her friend, a notary. She was determined to sell the house and wanted to hear the notary's explanation.
As she descended the stairs, she heard a suspicious noise in the kitchen, like a plate falling or a light impact. Tina grabbed the baseball bat from the umbrella basket and cautiously tiptoed into the kitchen. Perhaps there were thieves or homeless people looking for food.

Slowly, Tina peeked into the kitchen. There, she saw Stephanie fidgeting, her mournful voice filling the room. "Staphanie…" Tina called out.

Stephanie eyed her suspiciously, perhaps not recognizing her anymore. But then Stephanie leaped into her arms. Tina hugged her mother's beloved black cat tightly, as if pouring out her longing for her mother.

Tina put down the baseball bat and began to frantically search for food for Stephanie. Perhaps she would reconsider selling the house.[]

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I invite @zainalbakri, @munaa, and @lirvic to join this challenge.