It wasn't until Nicole reached the sanatorium that she realized just how close her mother had always been.

Nicole approached step by step, stopping short of the room. What awaited her on the other side was unimaginable, and she couldn't bring herself to face it. The mother she thought had died long ago was still alive.

Nicole stood frozen, dreading that this might be a cruel dream, and that behind that door, she would find nothing. She was afraid the hope she'd clung to shattered once more.

Nicole felt numb as Jarrod held her hand and guided her forward.

That changed when the door swung open.

Dora sat on the hospital bed, calmly watching TV, unfazed by their arrival.

"Mom..." Tears poured down Nicole's face as she rushed forward to embrace Dora.

"Mom... Mommy..." Nicole cried, holding Dora tightly, but Dora seemed as lifeless as a mannequin, not even flinching.

Nicole slowly realized something was terribly wrong. She shook her mother's shoulders, her voice rising with urgency. "Mom, what's wrong?"

Do you recognize me? I'm Nicole, your Nicole...

Finally, Dora moved but only slightly, murmuring incoherently and drooling from the corner of her mouth.

Trembling, Nicole looked to Jarrod through her tears, asking, “What happened to my mom?"

Nicole had always appeared strong, especially around Jarrod, like an unwavering warrior.

This kind of vulnerability was rare.

Jarrod felt a painful tightness in his chest and was tempted to reach out and hold her. Instead, he said softly, "The fact that she woke up is already a miracle..."

That simple statement conveyed everything. Dora had regained consciousness after being declared brain-dead, so it was unreasonable to expect her to function like she once had.

In the years before, Dora was confined to bed, only blinking occasionally, unable to move any other part of her body.

Eventually, Jarrod secured top-notch doctors and arranged for Dora's care at the best facility. With continuous treatment, she could move her hands and feet and even sit up.

Watching TV was part of Dora's rehabilitation, meant to stimulate her brain, but it seemed to make little difference. Dora remained unresponsive.

Nicole gazed at her mother's familiar face, and memories long suppressed flooded her mind. The kitchen glowed warmly, steam rising from the pot on the stove, her mother cooking while her father set the table. When Nicole came home, their faces lit up with joy.