Slipping through my fingers

Today had finally arrived. The day Sylvana had never wanted to come. A bittersweet feeling filled her chest as she watched Aphmau walk down the stairs and into the kitchen, still half asleep.

It was her little Mija's wedding day.

She watched as Aphmau rubbed the sleep from her eyes. The short potato glanced up at her mother with a bright smile. Sylvana forced herself to return it, pushing back the thought of it being the last time she would be the one to see that smile.

-Later-

"Mom, I'm fine. I'm just going to the bathroom!" Aphmau giggled. Sylvana sighed as she watched her little Mija leave the bedroom and enter the bathroom. With tired eyes, she slowly sat down on the bed. A weak smile appeared on her well-aged features as memories began to fill her head. (Play the song now)

Schoolbag in hand, she leaves home in the early morning. Waving goodbye, with an absent-minded smile.

It was the first day of kindergarten. She glanced down at her daughter while giving her much smaller hand a gentle squeeze. Aphmau giggled, caramel eyes bright and cheerful as she squeezed back. The moment was interrupted by the large yellow school bus coming around the corner. She slowly slid down into the seat of the bus stop, watching her Mija wave happily as she disappeared into the bus.

I watched her go, with a surge of that well known sadness, and I have to sit down for a while. The feeling that I'm loosing her forever.

Sylvana leaned against the doorframe, watching as her daughter packed everything for college. She fought back tears as her Mija asked for her help. It became harder when she gently set a photo album into her suitcase.

And without really entering her world.

She supposed she should have asked when she saw all the links to werewolf information sites on Aphmau's laptop all those years ago. Maybe if she had, her Mija wouldn't be sobbing in her arms after another nightmare from memories of the lodge.

I'm glad whenever I could share her laughter, that funny little girl.

Sylvana wiped away her tears. Yet no matter how many times she wiped them away, the heavy weight in her heart only brought them back.

Slipping through my fingers all the time, I try to capture every minute. The feeling in it. Slipping through my fingers all the time.

She smiled sadly when she pressed the makeup brush to her daughter's cheek. She made sure Aphmau's eyes were closed so that she couldn't see the tears that had come with more memories.

Do I really see what's in her mind? Each time I think I'm close to knowing, she keeps on growing. Slipping through my fingers all the time.

She desperately wished she could go back in time and be more involved with her daughter. Now it was to late. She forced the thoughts in the back of her head as she ran the brush through Aphmau's hair.

Sleep in our eyes, her and me at the breakfast table. Barely awake, I let precious time go by.

A loud laugh left Sylvana's lips as she watched her daughter taste coffee for the first time, Aphmau sent her a glare, though it hardly looked threatening with the bags under her eyes. If only she could freeze the moment and keep it that way forever.

What happened to those wonderful adventures? The places I planned for us to go? Well, some of that we did, but most we didn't, and why? I just don't know.

And for that Sylvana had never felt more guilty as she watched Aaron bend down on one knee. He was able to take her Mija where she always wanted to go. Not her.

Slipping through my fingers all the time, I try to capture every minute. The feeling in it. Slipping through my fingers all the time. Do I really see what's in her mind? Each time I think I'm close to knowing, she keeps on growing. Slipping through my fingers all the time.

A weak smile was on Sylvana's face as Aphmau slipped into the bathroom, carrying the long white and purple gown.

Sometimes I wish that I could freeze the picture and save it from the funny tricks of time. Slipping through my fingers...

Aphmau gasped as she was pulled into her mother's embrace. Tears fell from Sylvana's eyes and dripped into her hair. A comforting smile grew on Aphmau's face as she buried her head into her chest and wrapped her arms around her mother's waist. The drops fell faster from both mother and daughter.

-Later-

Sylvanna fought hard against her tears. Her arm was linked with her beautiful Mija's. Aaron stood at the end of the isle, his eyes wide and obviously struggling to keep his tail from wagging. As they made it to the end of the isle, she turned to her Mija and placed a gentle kiss on her forehead. She sniffled, turning to Aaron with a sad smile.

"Take care of her." She whispered, before placing a single, motherly kiss on his cheek. He nodded "I will."

"That's all I ask." She smiled, sitting down in her seat in the front row next to Eric.

School bag in hand, she leaves home in the early morning. Waving goodbye with an absent-minded smile