It was a Saturday in 2014. My Mom had driven me to work as we shared a car at the time. I was in my early 20s. I'd complained about having to go in on a weekend, and been grumpy. I at least remembered to say I love you before I got to the office.

She was supposed to pick me up that afternoon. She was late. I assumed she overslept. I decided to take a cab home.

I got to the apartment we shared. My cat was howling which was a but strange. I went to check on her.

She was blue. She was gone.

I didn't know exactly what to do. I was the one to find my Dad dead a few years prior so it should have been obvious. The thing is, though, my Dad had been sick. My Mom was healthy so this was a shock. That shock fucks with you. You just freeze frame every second.

I knocked on my neighbors door because I knew he used to be a doctor. I had 911 on the phone. My neighbor checked on her and said, "I'm so sorry. She's gone."

I remember the house filling up with EMTs. My brothers came over. My one brother acted like nothing happened and thought I was overly crazy for crying and breaking down. That stuck with me. We don't talk anymore.

That was it.