an older woman sitting at a table reading a book

Once, in a small village, there lived a woman named Elara who spent her days caring for her ailing mother. They shared a modest home filled with memories and laughter, but as her mother's health declined, the warmth of their bond grew heavier with sorrow.Elara devoted herself entirely to her mother, sacrificing her own dreams and social life. Each day, she watched as the vibrant woman who had once taught her about life slowly faded away. Their conversations turned into whispers, and laughter became a distant memory.One evening, as the sun set, Elara sat by her mother’s bedside, reading her favorite stories. Her mother smiled weakly, a flicker of the woman she once was. “Promise me you’ll live, Elara,” she said, her voice barely audible. Tears streamed down Elara's face as she nodded, knowing how hard it would be to let go.A few days later, her mother passed away, leaving Elara alone in the quiet house filled with echoes of their past. Grief consumed her, and the promise she made felt like a weight she couldn'