The ice began to melt, and small drops traveled down Clara's forehead. Jossie pet Clara's hair gently, then got up and went to Clara's kitchen. "You hungry?", she asked while she was taking out food to make anyway. "Yes please.", Clara said. She watched her mother as she worked, seeing the tired beauty in her deep brown eyes. Her seemingly ageless face withheld a content expression. After Jossie seasoned the chicken breasts she placed them in the frying pan. Instantly the room had the aroma of home. Clara missed being home with her mom and dad.
She missed leaving for school every morning, and her mother kissing her goodbye. She missed the home cooked meals every night, and her favorite: fried honey-chicken, mashed potatoes, and Hawaiian rolls. She missed when her mother would let her help in the kitchen when she was 10, and she would have Clara clean the chicken or bake the bread. She missed birthdays because her mother would bake her a cake every year, but not just any cake, she would bake a completely different kind each year and each year they were delicious. Clara's favorite was the Chocolate-lava ice cream cake that she had for her 13th birthday. Clara even missed her teenage years, when arguments with Jossie were more frequent than were hugs and kisses. She missed especially the resolutions of each argument, that ended in exchanges of "I love you." and a planned mother-daughter date. She missed it. She missed all of it.
She continued to watch Jossie and began to smile. Noticing, Jocelyn smiled back. Then she said it, something she hasn't said to her mom since what had happened. "I love you mom." Jossie stopped herself and shed a tear, she left her work to go to Clara. Embracing her she said, "I love you too baby." A weight then lifted from their chests, and the lock within their hearts broke. Both souls were free. Both were leaving entrailments of beauty everywhere. And they stayed in that embrace for what felt like eternity.
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