Boundless Love

This story is by Paula Frew and was part of our 2020 Fall Writing Contest. You can find all the writing contest stories here.

Kaylee Diane Keaton was a week late coming into this world. At 8 pounds 7 ounces, I never thought I could love her more than I did in that instant. She was all brown curls and green eyes when they placed her on my chest.

She was perfection.

My daughter began to crawl and walk and to get into places she was not meant to go. Kaylee drove me to distraction. She pushed me to my limits, but Kaylee was still the child I had prayed for. Her first word was ‘Momma’ and that was enough for me.

She was perfection.

Kaylee grew from a rambunctious toddler to a headstrong young lady, tilting at windmills and speaking her mind at every turn. Despite her actions, my heart swelled evermore with love for her. From halting steps to the poise of the belief in her thoughts, she had grown so much.

She was perfection.

Kaylee came home from college with piercings and purple hair and a boyfriend with the same. She all but dared me to voice my objection, but I just grew to love her more. It would have done no good to object.

She was perfection.

Kaylee came to her graduation with no piercings, brown hair, and no boyfriend. She had grown out of her rebellious phase and was ready to start her career search. She was still anxious to save the world.

She was perfection.

I walked Kaylee down the aisle. Her father had died, and she bestowed the honor on me. I was so excited that day, but not as enthusiastic as Kaylee. She wore a dress that looked more beautiful than the cake.

She was perfection.

I held her as Kaylee sobbed the day the doctors told her she would never have a child. She felt as though she was defective. I never thought of her that way. Her husband consoled her, telling Kaylee he loved her, nonetheless. Some hurt only a mother can understand.

She was perfection.

The call came late one night as I slept. Kaylee was coming home, and she was tired. Not far from her home, she swerved to the other side of the street and hit a tree. The car crumpled, and Kaylee died on impact. All these years later, my heart still reaches out to Kaylee, and I wish she were here to reach back. I suppose now I know what it means for a mother to have boundless love for her child.

She was perfection.