Chapter 72

• Nicole gazed lovingly at her mother, and then stood up from the chair. She needed a moment to collect herself. She quietly made her way to the bathroom, closing the door behind her.
• She turned on the faucet, letting the cool water flow over her wrists as she gazed at her reflection in the mirror. She splashed some water on her face, feeling the droplets trickle down her cheeks.
• As she patted her face dry with a towel, Nicole took a deep breath, trying to shake off the lingering emotions from her dream. She needed to focus on her mother, not get caught up in memories of the past.