In response to Charli Mills, Carrot Ranch , 99 word Flash Fiction challenge this week, I wrote a piece about being there when my mother in law passed. She always thought of me as the daughter she never had. Join the fun, when you feel the urge. It’s a lot of fun.
She wouldn’t leave the hospital alive. Acceptance led to a coma. Any time now. Any time now. Family was called. Many came to visit.
Suddenly, she sat up and asked for ice cream. Nurses leaped over each other to make that happen. They rubbed a bit on her parched lips and she licked them while closing her eyes in pleasure. Then, she looked at her daughter and smiled. Her last words were.
“Can I go home now?”
With tears of joy and sorrow in her eyes and a lump in her throat, her daughter gave her permission to die.
Annette Rochelle Aben 
Wow 😮!!!!
This was really an awesome 👏 way to see someone to the very end..
I love how you put it together in such a spicy and sweet poetic way…
Make me smile 😃..and sad 😔 all at the same time
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Thank you. It’s been 30 years and I still break up telling the story.
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Love 💕 how you tell it toooo
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What a powerful post and story! Thank you for sharing your experience.
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Thank you, Margot!
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This is wonderful…the kind of story that stays in my mind.
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Thank you so much
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That was lovely, Annette. Particularly having the backstory to go with it. Hugs on the wing.
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Thank you, Teagan. She was one of the most influential women in my life. ❤
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Beautiful, Annette ❤
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Thank you, Jacquie. ❤
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Wow. What a story, Annette.
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Thank you, John. She was quite a woman ❤
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I would say so.
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Very, very moving, sister! Comforting, sad, thought-provoking, and uplifting in only a few lines.
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Thank you, Erika. I was blessed to have her in my life ❤
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Oh, I am sorry to learn it is such a close experience of yours. But to tell from your poem and your comment, letting go and still keeping tightly locked in the heart go along with each other. Feel hugged, Annette 💖
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Beautiful, Annette…
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Thank you, Bette! ❤ She was so young at the time, only 65.
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This is so powerful! Life is a treasure.
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Amen. ❤
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❤️
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Don’t know why this struck me so. I loved it!
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Thank you, thank you, so much!
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ok Annette,I’m confused……this is fiction but its about a real event in your life?
I love the story! Did this actually happen to you?
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I am using the opportunity to accept the 99 word challenge (which happens to be Flash Fiction) to improve my writing skills. So, technically, this is NOT fiction. It is exactly how my Mother In Law died, 30 years ago. I am glad you love the story. So do I.
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I see,I’m not a writer so do not understand sometimes Annette.
It must of been a profound moment for you!
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No worries. Yes, it was rather life changing. I loved her more than anyone. We had exactly one week from her diagnosis to her death. Of course, we were told it would be much longer. But she had the right to let go if she wanted and I wanted her to know it was okay. ❤
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love always finds a way
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This is such a moving story, Annette.
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Thank you, Robbie. ❤
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Such a beautiful and moving flash, Annette.
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Thank you, Charli ❤
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This is lovely, Annette. Life is but an interlude on the journey to beyond. Last wishes fulfilled. Beautiful.
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Thank you so much, Norah!
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