168 FIN

SHIRO

The little girl gripped my hand tightly. I looked at her and smiled, reassuring her that it would be alright.

We were sitting outside of the doctor's office, waiting for her mother to come out after the doctor was sure she was indeed cancer-free.

Ellaine, the name of the little girl beside me, clamped her mouth together. She was fiddling with her hands as we waited.

Her unconditional love for her mother reminded me so much of Rose. The thought of her pricked my heart.

"Your mother would be fine," I assured her verbally this time, stroking her hair. She smiled and nodded.

Finally, after several minutes, the door of the doctor's office opened, and Elise, her mother, walked out. A scarf was wrapped around her head, a reminder of the battle she had bravely fought.

There were tears in her eyes as she ran to hug her daughter, smothering her with kisses.