I stare at myself in the mirror. I look pale, bloodless. Other than that, I look the same. I can describe the girl staring at me from the mirror as an anaemic version of my older self.

I am ardently gazing at my new physique when I hear a muffled sob. I know who it is but I don't acknowledge it. Its too early to let the burden of what just happened sink in and crush me.

I follow the sounds into my bedroom. I don't enter directly though. I hesitate a moment and peek in through the doorway. As expected, I see my ma sobbing heavily, clutching to my worn bedspread.

It breaks my heart to see her crying for me. I feel a wave of sadness swelling inside me, crashing against my ribs. And I can almost feel the pain inside me.

Ma doesn't notice me, though. Her heaving, doubled over frame sits facing away from the doorway. I gently enter, walk in a few steps and then abruptly stop. She hasn't noticed me yet.

So...