THREE

"Hello, my baby. It's so nice to see you again."

The voice sounded distant and fading.

Layla blinked away at the blurry space in front of her, trying to clear her vision.

Through the blinding light, she started to make out a silhouette of a person.

The shadow moved closer and closer.

Fear had struck, Layla stopped blinking and just waited for the silhouette to become clearer, but it never did.

The figure was standing in front of Layla and she still couldn't see any features clearer.

Layla feared she had gone blind and started crying uncontrollably. How could she lose her mom and her sight all at once?

Could her life get any worse?

Suddenly, a hand touched her face to wipe her tears away.

The hand felt familiar, warm and soft. Layla let the person wipe her tears away. 

When the person pulled their hand away they gently said "Open your eyes now, Layla. Everything's going to be okay"

That voice.

She knew that voice.

But how?

Could it be the person she thinks it is?

But how?

That person was dead.

Layla wondered maybe she could be dead, too.

This thought was odd, yet it calmed her.

At least, if she is dead the pain of her losses wouldn't be too much to bear anymore.

She still had her eyes closed, trying to figure out if opening her eyes would be a good thing or bad thing. 

She couldn't decide, so she took a deep breathe and peeked through her left eye.

What she saw made her jump back a little.

It was Madeline, Layla mother, but not as Layla knew her. She was a much younger version of her mother. 

A version that looked as though she and Layla were the exact same age.

(Her mother always said that a lady never reveals her age, so that won't be revealed as part of her story.)

Laylas little jump amused her mother and she let out a little giggle.

"Oh, honey, you knew it was me. I saw it on your face when I touched you. Or is it how I look? I don't look dead, do I?"

Silence reigned from Layla.

She couldn't bring her mouth to say the words she had in her head.

She was dumbfounded.

Madeline saw this and decided that she would just hold Layla until Layla felt comfortable enough to speak.

After what felt like 30 minutes, but was only 30 seconds, Layla asked, "am I dead?".

Madeline roared with laughter.

Taken aback, Layla pushed her mom away from her and stared at her, menacingly at first, but her eyes softened immediately.

For the first time in her life, she could see her mother clearly.

Her mothers eyes were dark brown just as hers and almond shaped so they caught your eyes too. Her hair was as shiny as silk and flowed all the way to her shoulders, bouncing on them as if they were a bouncy castle every time she laughed. Her personality also seemed different, Madeline looked free from all her worries.

Before she could say anything, a tear escaped her eye. Soon, the tears were rolling and she couldn't seem to stop it.

Madeline took her into her arms and just kept repeating the phrase " Everything's going to be okay"

And Layla felt that too, that everything would be okay.