Leaf in light

The sparkly frost on this leaf caught my mom's eye. She picked it up and asked me if I wanted it. I declined, thinking to myself how quickly the frost would melt off, leaving a soggy leaf. As if reading my mind, she said, "Well, if it's still like this when I get home, I'll give it to you." But then a more lasting bit of color caught her eye--a sprig of holly with some red berries--and the leaf was forgotten.

Earlier in the visit, when we were visiting in her room, she asked me my husband's name. I told her. She asked, "And does he have a wife?" "Yes," I said. "Me." "Oh," she said, "Does he like you?"