My mom comes to comfort me, and as she moves into the light I see how she too has changed. While her appearance isn't as radically different, she looks grayer than I remember.
Her embrace reminds me of childhood. I collect myself and she returns to her seat around the table. I take the time to examine my family’s faces as they wait for me to blow out the candles. I take care to burn their faces into my mind, to hold onto this memory as best I can.