The old woman waited, br standing on the sidwalk br watching the round-about br She seems frail, br a long life, weighted br on hunched shoulders br Yet a look of contentment br nonetheless in her eyes br As the car approaches br she starts to it br A woman, middle-aged, br and obviously her daughter br quickly jumps out of the car br and hurries to her mother br to assist the old woman br The old woman ducks br the outstretched arm holding br the door for her, br scurrying into the car br (refusing to believe that br she would need such help! Imagine!) br with a haste that startled br the younger woman br The younger woman's rebuts only br fell on selectively deaf ears. br br As they drove away, br I couldn't help but cry. br Such an ordinary, everyday occurrence br never to be remembered br by anyone... br but me. br The defiance of the old woman and her will br The tenderness of the daughter br and the her appreciation, subconscious, br That she has this time with her mother. br I said a prayer for them... br I prayed that the daughter never forgets br and the old woman br enjoyed her life and that it was full. br And as I returned to my br mother's hospital room, br a surprise pang of jealousy br and regret overwhelmed me. br The search for answers br I know I would never find br filled and crushed my heart... br I entered my mother's room quietly br and sat by her side while she slept. br I prayed for God's guidance br and my mother's peace. br And I watched her beautiful br young face throughout the night.