Hi everyone, Before we get into the story, are there any of you who are curious about this short story? Sometimes, life brings us to a bitter reality that must be accepted with sincerity. The short story “Space Empty” tells the emotional journey of a high school student named Ita who has to face the loss of her beloved mother.

In her struggle to find strength after the inevitable separation, Ita tries to get up and continue her life even though the shadow of sadness cannot be avoided. This article will take you through every second of a child’s struggle trying to come to terms with loss, and how memories of her mother help her to keep going. Follow the story and find lessons about love, loss, and strength within ourselves.

 

A Heartbreaking Story of Ita and Her Mother

The Quiet Struggles: Ita’s Hidden Pain

Ever since I was a little girl, my mom has always been a strong person. She’s not only an amazing mom, but also my best friend. We were like an inseparable team, always together, always supporting each other. I grew up watching her work hard, take care of the house, and make sure everyone was happy. She always had a smile on her face, no matter what, and I idolized her strength. It felt like nothing could beat her spirit.

However, lately, I’ve started to feel something is different. No one can explain it in words, but something has changed. Maybe it’s me who’s been too busy with my high school life, but I know something is wrong. I often see my mom looking tired, even though she’s usually full of energy. Sometimes, she’ll sit on the couch, staring blankly ahead, with a little out of breath.

That day, I came home from school early. I passed the living room and saw my mom sitting on a chair, her face pale. I paused for a moment, feeling something strange about her gaze. My mother looked at me, and even though she was smiling, her eyes couldn’t hide the growing tiredness.

“What’s wrong, Mom? You look really tired,” I asked, a little worried.

She just laughed softly. “Oh, it’s okay, honey. Maybe it’s just tiredness.”

However, I couldn’t ignore the strange feeling that was growing in my chest. That afternoon, I felt an unusual distance between us, like there was something I couldn’t reach. After a few days, I started to notice that my mother was feeling tired more and more often and complaining about the pain in her chest. Maybe I was too busy with schoolwork and my friends, but for some reason, this uncomfortable feeling was getting more and more disturbing.

One night, when I came home from school, I saw my mother sitting at the dining table, clutching her chest with a pained expression. She tried to hide the pain by smiling, but I knew it wasn’t just tiredness. I immediately ran to her.

“Mom! What’s wrong?” I asked in panic.

My mother took a deep breath and looked at me with a gaze that was full of affection, but also filled with deep sadness. “It’s okay, honey. Just a little short of breath. Mom just needs to rest.”

I knew that Mom never wanted to show weakness. She always tried to appear strong in front of me, in front of all of us. But something inside her was starting to break. I felt increasingly worried.

A few days later, I decided to accompany Mom to the doctor. I really didn’t know what to expect. But when the doctor told me the diagnosis, it felt like the world stopped spinning. Mom had a severe heart condition. An incurable disease, and even though there was treatment, there was not much that could be done.

I felt devastated. There were no words to express how I felt. All the happiness, laughter, and joy we had felt so empty. I didn’t know how I was going to face this reality. How could I be a good child, who was always cheerful and optimistic, if I had to watch Mom, who had always been my hero, suffer?

But outside the house, I tried to be myself. At school, I was still the cheerful Gianna who always livened up the atmosphere. My friends had no idea what was happening. They only knew me as an active girl who was always ready to have fun. I felt like two different people, one out there who looked strong and didn’t care, and the other who was at home, crying silently inside.

I have to keep going, right? That’s what my mother always taught me. But, as I watched my mother grow weaker, as I felt her every smile fade, I wondered if I was still strong enough to survive.

Every night, before going to bed, I sat by her bedside, holding her hand. I wanted to remember every second with my mother, every hug, every loving word. I wanted to keep it in my heart, because I knew, our time together would not be long.

And even though I tried to keep smiling, even though I pretended that everything was okay, deep down, I knew that nothing could change the reality that had already been revealed. I had to be ready to lose the person I loved the most, the mother who had given her life for this family.

It’s been a tough journey, and even though I don’t know how I’ll survive, I know one thing: I will never give up, because that’s my mother’s legacy that I will always carry with me in my life.

 

The Diagnosis: A Heartbreaking Truth

A week has passed since I first learned that my mother had heart disease. Every morning I wake up with anxiety that hangs over me, but I try not to show it. At school, I still smile as usual, joke with my friends, follow every lesson with enthusiasm. But in my heart, there is a part that is shattered into pieces. I am afraid. Afraid of losing my mother.

Every night, I sit beside her bed, holding her thinning hand, and looking at her face that now looks older. Every second we spend together feels so precious. I know, we don’t have much time. But, even though the pain continues to stab, my mother always tries to encourage me.

“What do you need today?” I asked, my voice almost inaudible.

My mother only smiled, although her smile seemed very weak. “I just need you, Gi. You are strong. Don’t worry about me.”

I could only nod, although my heart felt like it was choking. My mother always said that I had to be strong. But who can be strong if the one I love is starting to become fragile? Every word that came out of her mouth felt like a needle stabbing my heart.

One day, my mother didn’t wake up as usual. I woke up early and found her still lying in bed, breathing heavily. I immediately woke her up, worried.

“Mom, wake up, Mom, what’s wrong?” I shook her body.

My mother opened her eyes slowly, and when she saw me, she smiled. But there was something different—her face looked paler, her eyes dimmer than usual. I knew this wasn’t just ordinary fatigue.

“Gi, don’t worry, Mom just needs to rest,” she answered softly.

But I knew it wasn’t just a matter of rest. I felt something was very wrong, and this time, I couldn’t hold it in anymore. I rushed to call my father, and within minutes, we were all on our way to the hospital.

When the doctor confirmed that my mother’s illness was getting worse, it felt like the world was falling apart. The doctor said that my mother needed intensive care, but they couldn’t give me much assurance. The disease had been diagnosed too late, and it seemed like she wouldn’t last long.

I wanted to cry, wanted to scream, wanted to rebel against the reality that came so deeply. But in front of my mother, I had to be strong. I couldn’t show that fear, because my mother would worry. I didn’t want my mother to feel heavier, even though I knew, at that time, I was fighting alone.

The day after the doctor gave me the diagnosis, I felt so tired. Maybe I tried too hard to pretend that everything would be okay. At school, I daydreamed more often. My friends didn’t know what I was going through, and I didn’t know how to explain it all to them. They only knew me as Gianna who was full of enthusiasm and always the center of attention. They didn’t know how much I missed the figure of my mother who used to always warm the house with her cheerful voice.

Coming home, I felt even more depressed. My mother was now lying weaker, although she still tried to smile for me. Every time I asked how she was, she would say, “I’m fine, honey. Don’t worry.”

But I knew she was lying.

One night, after I came back from school, my mother was sitting on a chair near the window, staring at the rain pouring outside. Her face was full of thoughts, and I could see that there were so many memories stored in her eyes. I sat beside her, trying to find the strength that she had always given me.

“Mom, why are you so quiet? Come on, tell me, Mom. I want to hear your story,” I said in a hoarse voice, trying to make her smile.

Mom looked at me, and for the first time, I saw fear in her eyes. “Gi, I may not have much time left. But the most important thing for me is that you must remember, no matter what happens, you must continue to live happily. Don’t let sadness rule your life.”

My tears fell uncontrollably. I hugged her tightly, feeling like there was a big hole in my chest that kept gaping. “Mom, I can’t live without you. I don’t know what to do,” I whispered.

“Mom will always be in your heart, Gi. No matter what happens. You will never really go away,” Mom answered softly, trying to calm me down, even though her voice was starting to choke.

In the following days, I began to learn to look deeper into my mother. I don’t just see a weak mother, but a woman full of love and sacrifice. She may not last long, but I know that every second I spend with her is a priceless gift.

And even though my heart is full of unspeakable pain, I promise myself, that I will always remember my mother as the greatest hero in my life.

 

The Longest Goodbye

Time seemed to pass so quickly. Every day seemed to be just a routine filled with increasingly deep anxiety. Mother was getting weaker, and I felt like I was losing control of my life. Every morning, I woke up with a fear that I couldn’t explain, afraid that it would be the last day I would see my mother smile, even though that smile was appearing less and less often.

The days at school began to feel empty. I no longer enjoyed lessons like I used to. I rarely talked to my friends. All my thoughts were focused on how my mother was, whether she had eaten, how it felt to sleep with a body that felt increasingly weak. Every second felt so precious, but also so painful.

At home, the atmosphere was getting quieter. Mother was bedridden more, and I tried to be everything for her. I took care of everything, making her food, bathing her, making sure she was comfortable. However, even though I tried hard, there was a bitter realization that haunted my every step: our time together was getting shorter.

One night, it rained heavily. The sound of the drizzle hitting the windows of the house seemed to add to the sadness that filled this heart. I sat beside my mother, holding her dry and cold hand. She looked weaker than before, but she still smiled at me.

“Gi, have you eaten?” My mother’s weak voice sounded cheerful, even though it was clear that she was very tired.

I nodded, even though I didn’t really eat. I just sat with her, staring at her eyes that were starting to dim. “Mom, why are you still trying to be cheerful? I know, you must be feeling very sick,” I answered softly, trying to hold back the tears that were increasingly welling up.

My mother looked at me with loving eyes, and then she reached for my cheek, patting it gently. “Gi, I just want you to be happy. Don’t think about me all the time. You’re still young, your life is still long. Don’t let everything stop just because of me,” she said in a trembling voice.

I lowered my head, trying to hold back the tears that were becoming increasingly difficult to control. “I don’t know how I can be happy without you, Mom. You are everything to me,” I answered in an increasingly choked voice.

Mom took a deep breath and tried to smile. “Gi, you have to be strong. Be strong for mom, be strong for yourself.”

I nodded, even though my body felt very tired. Every word from mom felt like it was stabbing my heart deeper. I felt like I couldn’t face it. I didn’t want to let go of mom. I couldn’t imagine a world without her.

The next day, mom got weaker. I felt my body getting weaker, I had no more enthusiasm to go through the day. When the doctor came to check on mom, I felt like the world was spinning very slowly. Every second felt so long. I know, moments like this are moments I don’t want to face, but I have to accept it.

The doctor gave me the bad news. Mom only had a few days left. The news seemed to tear my heart apart. I felt like my body was losing strength, and there was only emptiness creeping throughout my body. There were no words that could express how devastated I was at that moment. I could only stay silent, not knowing what to do or say.

That night, I sat down next to mom again. She lay weak, her eyes half closed, and her breathing sounded heavy. I held her hand tightly, trying to give her strength, even though I knew I had lost all my strength.

“Mom, I don’t know how to live without you. I’m scared, Mom,” I said, my voice breaking with uncontrollable tears.

Mom opened her eyes slightly, looking at me lovingly. “Gi, don’t be afraid. I’ll always be in your heart. Don’t let your fear rule your life. I know you can get through this. You can,” she said, her voice growing weaker.

I held her hand tighter, as if trying to channel all the strength I had into her. I wanted to believe her words, I wanted to believe that I could survive without her. But, deep down, I knew it was something that was very difficult.

“Mom, I promise. I’ll be strong. I’ll be able to make you very proud,” I said in a trembling voice.

Mom smiled once more, although her smile seemed to be fading now. “That’s what I want. You’re happy. That’s all I hope for.”

And that night, I knew. Mom was ready to go. She has given everything to me, and now I have to continue living without her. The rain that fell that night, seemed to be a witness to my mother’s endless struggle and sacrifice. As if telling me that all beautiful things must end, even in a very difficult way.

I looked at my mother for the last time that night, trying to remember all the beautiful memories we had shared together. I wanted to remember my mother in all her kindness and strength. And even though this feeling of loss was so painful, I knew I had to live my life with passion, as my mother always wanted.

The following days were the hardest in my life. However, I know that my mother is always there in every step I take, in every choice I make. Because my mother’s love will always live in me, even though her body is gone.

 

The Empty Room

That morning, I sat in the room that used to be filled with my mother’s laughter and stories. Now, the room felt quiet, lonely. I looked at my mother’s bed that was now empty. There was no longer the sound of her heavy breathing, no longer the little smile that always made the world feel lighter. All that existed were memories. Memories that should have been life lessons, but they felt increasingly difficult to live.

The first days after my mother’s departure were times full of difficulties. Every corner of the house reminded me of my mother. Every corner reminded me of her laughter and warm hugs that always gave me a sense of security. But now, everything just felt empty and haunting. Maybe other people wouldn’t understand how deep this loss was. I, who used to be surrounded by friends, who always looked cheerful, now felt like a shadow floating aimlessly.

The school had become a place full of noise and unwanted chatter. My friends didn’t know what was happening in my house. They only knew that I had lost my mother, but no one really understood how it felt to live in this emptiness. I forced myself to smile whenever they talked to me, but inside, everything was falling apart.

In the midst of all that, I felt a growing burden. Everyone thought I was fine, just because I didn’t show my sadness on the outside. But inside, I felt my body getting more and more crushed, as if this burden would never go away. At home, I played the strong figure, who could control everything, who could face reality. However, in the silence of the night, I felt weak. I felt like everything I did was in vain. Mom wouldn’t come back, and I had to live with that reality.

One afternoon, as I sat in the backyard, listening to the sound of the wind rustling softly, I felt my mother’s presence, in some form. I remember clearly every time she sat in the chair next to me. We would talk about anything. She always knew how to make me feel better, even though at that time I just wanted to think and cry.

But now, the chair was empty. I could only hear the wind blowing, blowing softly, as if giving me the warmth that was missing. I closed my eyes, trying to imagine my mother sitting there, holding my hand gently like she used to. I wanted to feel her presence, wanted to feel her hug, but it was just an empty hope. She was no longer here.

I got up and went into the house, walking slowly to my mother’s room. There were so many memories that I couldn’t erase, and I didn’t want to erase them. However, I knew I had to learn to let go. Maybe that was part of the struggle of life. Maybe that was what my mother meant when she said, “Don’t let your fears rule your life.” I didn’t know how I would continue living without my mother by my side, but I knew I had to try.

Every day, I talked to my mother, even though I knew she couldn’t hear. I told her about what happened at school, about friends who still asked me to hang out even though I just wanted to be alone. I told her about how lonely I felt, about how much I missed my mother. I told her about all the feelings that piled up in my heart, because I knew she was the only one who could understand all of that.

Sometimes, I felt like my mother was still near me. One time, while I was sitting in the living room, I heard my mother calling my name. I turned my head, and suddenly the world felt like it stopped. But when I turned around, there was no one there. Only the cold air. I lowered my head, crying silently. How could I possibly accept this reality? How could I live without my mother who was always there for me?

However, in every tear that fell, I began to find a glimmer of strength. Every time I felt like there was nothing left to hold on to, I remembered my mother’s words that always calmed me down: “You are strong, Gi. Don’t let anything defeat you.” My mother knew I could get through all of this, even though I didn’t feel that way now. I felt broken, felt worthless, but I also knew that my mother wanted me to get up and keep going.

I decided to go back to school with a stronger spirit. Maybe that was what my mother hoped for. I couldn’t continue to wallow in sadness. I knew that my mother wanted me to be happy, even without her in this world. And maybe, this was the first step towards the happiness that my mother dreamed of for me.

The days that followed, despite the struggles and tears, I began to learn to see my life differently. I started talking more with my friends, sharing memories of my mother, and accepting the fact that I had to move on. She would never come back, but her memories would always be there, and they were a part of me that would always live on.

And even though I felt lost and lonely, I knew that my mother would never leave me. Because a mother’s love is eternal, and it will always be with me, with every step I take in this life.

 

So, how are you all, are there any of you who can conclude the short story above? The story “Space Empty” teaches us about the extraordinary strength that can be found within ourselves even in the darkest situations. Ita, despite having to struggle with great loss, shows how important memories, love, and courage are to rise. This story reminds us that even though mothers are no longer present, their love lives on in every step we take. If you feel connected to this story, don’t hesitate to share it with those closest to you. Hopefully this story will give you new strength and enthusiasm in facing every challenge in life.