We are Family

Day 30: Recovery

It had been 2 days, and Nell still had a hard time wrapping her head around it.

Her mother had died 2 days ago. She had stepped out of the room to get a coffee, then 2 minutes later, her mom's heart had stopped beating.

She had known the dreadful day was coming for months, but she just couldn't accept it.

Now, she was stuck with planning the funeral because her sister wasn't in the mental place to.

She felt like her whole world had collapsed, and she didn't know who to talk to. Then, she knew exactly who she could call.

'Beep beep beep.'

'Lange.'

'Hetty, it's me.'

'Nell? Oh my. It's been a while, how have you been lately?' Hetty asked, excited.

'I need to talk to you! I didn't know who else to call!' Nell said, crying.

'What happened?'

'My mom is dead! She's been dead for 2 days, and I don't know what I'm feeling!'

'Oh. Oh I'm so sorry to hear that. Um. Why don't you come over? Maybe I could help.'

'Sniff. Okay. Okay.'

Later, at Dovecote

'Hey dear, ohh. I'm so sorry to hear. Your mom was a great woman. Yeah, I only met her once, but she was a fighter!' Hetty said while hugging Nell.

'I'm gonna miss her so much!' Nell cried.

'I know I know. Why don't you take a seat while I get us some tea?'

'Sniff. Sniff.'

A few minutes later

'I knew this day was coming for months, But, it just didn't seem real. Like, I stepped out of her room for just a couple of minutes to get coffee, then I hear that she coded, and they couldn't get her heart restarted! Just, feels like a bad dream!' Nell said.

'I know how you feel. When I found out Owen had been dead for a year, I had a hard time accepting it because a part of me wanted him to be alive so he could comfort me. Then again, given how sick he was when he left, I should've seen it coming.' Hetty responded.

'And to make it worse, my sister won't help me plan the funeral. I'm stuck planning everything because everyone is too emotionally out of it! Sigh. I wasn't even her main caregiver, and yet I'M expected to do everything?!'

'That's harsh.' Hetty responded.

'It really is! They knew it was coming as well, they took care of her, And yet, I have to do all the work?! It's so infuriating!' Nell exclaimed.

'I can help you with the arrangements, if you want.'

'You sure? That'd be a big help!'

'My pleasure.'

Next couple of days, Hetty helped out with the flowers, her casket, basically everything, with Nell's assistence. And was also Nell's biggest support system through it all.

Sometime after the funeral

'Sorry for intruding like this, but I needed a break from my family.' nell said, at Hetty's doorstep.

'No problem at all! Please come in.'

She came in and sat down.

'How was it? I'm sorry I couldn't be there, I had an important meeting.' Hetty said.

'It was depressing. My father and sister were out of it basically the whole time. I ended up doing the ulugy even though someone else was supposed to do it.'

'Family can be challenging.'

'Sigh. Does, any of this get any easier?'

'The pain eventually dulls, but never fully goes away. It's perfectly okay to cry, or feel miserable. That's how I see it.' Hetty said.

'Sigh. Oh. Forgot to say thank you for helping me this past week, I really needed the help.'

'You're very welcome! Can I as you something?'

'Yeah?'

'May I give you a hug? You look like you could use one.' Hetty said, sweetly.

'Yes please!'

They hugged for a few minutes. Hetty continued to be Nell's support system in the weeks that followed