I didn’t think much of it at first.
My mom has always been the kind of person who keeps going —
always moving, always helping, always showing up for everyone around her.
She’s the one who insists she’s fine.
The one who stays busy.
The one who never wants to slow anyone down.
But one afternoon, while she was outside playing with my child, something felt… different.
She was laughing, smiling, chasing him around like she always does.
Until she paused.
Not for long.
Not dramatically.
Just a quiet moment.
She rested her hands on her knees, caught her breath, and stood back up like nothing happened.
But I noticed.
And for some reason… that moment stayed with me.
Not because I felt panic.
But because I felt curiosity.