I scrambled to her side, tried to smile, but tears betrayed me, dripping onto the bed.
"Mom, don't worry, I'll make sure they take care of you," I whispered.
Julia weakly lifted her hand to my cheek and said, "Bradley, I know my own body. I might not last the night."
"Mom, don't talk like that. The doctors still see a chance," I insisted.
"Bradley, I wrote a will. It's in the safe of my old house. The key is in the bedside drawer," Julia informed me.
Tears streamed down my face as I listened to Julia's final wishes.
Suddenly, her hand dropped. Overwhelmed with grief, I cried out, "Mom!"
I cried a long while, then got up, wiped my tears, and muttered, "Mom, I got it."
Julia raised Sophie by herself. Other than Sophie, I was her only family.
After I had Julia cremated, I walked out of the crematorium holding her urn. That was when Sophie, who'd been hanging out with Connor for the past two days, finally decided to call.
As soon as I picked up, I could hear the annoyance in her voice. "Bradley, where's my mom? I told her not to go wandering off. Did you take her out?"
Remembering Julia's final moments twisted my heart, and I replied somberly, "She's with me."