My Mother Is Dying

My Mother Is Dying

My mother is dying.

Not the woman that gave birth to me—

she left the Earth many years ago.

But the woman that made me the man I am today.

The woman that never bore her own flesh

to carry on her family's name.

The woman that fell in love with my dad

and saw me as his perfect son.

My mother is dying

and it seemed to come out of nowhere.

She hasn't been well for quite some time,

but it got real really quick.

I rescued her from a place

where she was wasting away,

tried to revive her and surround her

with all the things she loved.

Maybe it was a little too late

because now she is dying.

But at least she is home,

surrounded by the ones that love her the most.

She made me the man I am today

and while I am far from perfect,

I am her only son.

She loves me till her last breath.

I plan to be by her side when that happens

because she never left my side,

no matter how awful I was,

for my entire life.

I owe her so much

and there's not enough time to repay.

But I can give her this—

I can stay.

My mother is dying

and today is the saddest of days.

But tomorrow, and every day after,

I will carry her forward.

In the man she made me.

In the love she taught me.

In the son who will never forget

that she chose him,

loved him,

and never, ever left his side.

My mother is dying.

But what she built in me—

that will never die.