Darling

“Mom, do you believe in life beyond our physical existence?” I asked, my fork making figure eights with the collard greens nestled upon my plate. My mother – Amelia Bellatrix Baker (nee Hamer) was one of those amazing fifty year old women who believed she could extend her withering life span if she forced herself (and among others) to partake in the healthy ritual of greens and fruits.

But it wasn’t helping. Weathered face and white strands of hair were being to take residency. Maybe… maybe the Nurse was looking for her. We looked strangely alike. I was simply younger. We even share the same name.

She laughed; I imagined her old bones shaking a bit. I figured if her body shook, those bones must have as well. They rattled and then sunk back down for support.

“Amy, we’ve talked about this twice this week. Is there something you wish to speak about?”

“No,” I replied, “I just get scared.”

“Darling, ‘in this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.’ Ben Franklin said that, in a letter.”