Mum (again)

Mum died this morning, just before half ten.  We were all there, as usual - chatting together and involving mum although she was by then in a comatose state from the pain relief.  Suddenly her breathing changed and we knew it was time.  We stood around her bed, in her home, holding her hands, holding our hands, a circle of family, of grief and love.  Mum gave a couple more short breaths and was gone.

A few days earlier, I had tried sketching her weary eyes.

I couldn't bring myself to sketch her after she'd passed away.

The rest of the day was very busy.  Mum's body wasn't collected from the house til late afternoon.  We got used to having our mother's shell in the place.  We talked to her, tidied her up for the funeral directors and got on with the arrangements for her funeral.  In the weeks prior to mum's death, we'd had some time to come to terms with what was happening.

I stumbled on some photos late in the afternoon - mum as a young woman in a black and white shot smiling in the company of a youthful dad.  I cried uncontrollably for the first time in ages.  Where has all that life gone?  Anyone?