The last slice

Mary-Anne spent months researching the secret ingredient for her mothers birthday cake. She knew the magical flower grew nearby but only recently had been able to finally find it. It was the morning of her mothers birthday and she had finally been able to find it the night before, having gone on one more search. She spent the early morning hours preparing the flower to be put into her mothers chocolate birthday cake. it took many hours but it was finally done. It was now mid day and guests had began to fall in. Her mother was only in her 30s, not terminally ill but Mary-Anne knew she had mini ailments that had plagued her since as long as Mary-Anne could remember. She had to figure that her mother was suffering, being blind and having many mental and physical illnesses that ravaged her daily. She had made the decision months ago after coming across some thing in a random book she had read eight months ago, she wanted to show her mother gratitude for all she did for her by taking away her illnesses. She read and reread everything she could to make sure she knew how to prepare the flower properly. When it finally was time to make the cake she did everything meticulously not making any mistakes. The final product was a beautiful chocolate cake infused with the oils of the flower and decorated with the beautiful pink blossoms. It was late into the evening and all The festivities had started to come to an end, it was now time to serve the cake. Mary-Anne knew her mother had enjoyed herself to the fullest and went back to her room to rest and recuperate. So Mary-Anne served all of the other guests a piece of cake making sure to save one last piece for her mother, not even one for herself, To ensure that there was one last slice for her. After all of the guests had said their goodbyes and left she took the final piece of cake to her mother, sitting on the side of her bed. As she sat down she quietly woke her mother and said, “Mother, I have brought you the final slice of cake from your birthday. I made it special for you, it’s infused with a flower that if you eat it, even just one bite of the cake it will cure you of all of your ailments.“ Mary-Anne‘s mother slowly and gradually opened her eyes and as she slowly sat up she said, “I do not need it my daughter, for I am not suffering.“ Mary-Anne looked puzzled and confused, “why would you not want to eat it?“ Her mother said with a slight smile, “I do appreciate your kindness, I know you made it special for me, but I do not see my ailments as me suffering, I have survived. my struggles have made me stronger. It is you my daughter that should eat the cake.“ Mary-Anne with a questioning look asked her mother, “why should I eat it?“ Her mother began to explain, “I knew at a young age that my blindness and illnesses could be passed on to a child, I was afraid of the prospect but I wanted a child of my own, it is likely that you will have the same ailments befall you. However, if you were to eat a bite of the cake you would be spared from that future.“ After hearing this Mary-Anne did not harbor any ill feelings towards her mother, she knew her mother was a strong woman and faced much adversity due to the ailments that befell her. She did not wish to pressure her mother anymore about the matter, she just sat there thinking and pondering her mothers words. After a few moments she slowly stood up from her mothers bedside and slowly went to the kitchen with the saucer that held the beautifully decorated slice of chocolate cake. As she stepped up to the trash bin, She had one final thought, her mother did not let her lack of sight and illnesses of the mind and body keep her from being what she would believe to be the best mother she could have or the most ambitious and successful woman she knew. With that final thought she dumped the slice of cake into the bin, went to the dish tub and rinsed off the saucer and went back to her mothers room. Content with the decisions they both made they laid together on her mothers bed to rest after the night‘s festivities with content slight smiles on their faces as their eyes were closed, they both drifted into sleep to replenish their energy for the next day.