She held his hand. He was conscious, sitting up and dressed.

‘How do you feel today son?’ she asked.

The young man looked at his mother with empty eyes, with no sign of recognition, totally unresponsive. Every day for fourteen, she had driven the fifty miles alone, not knowing what she would find in the critical care unit, where he recovered from a massive overdose.

She held it together until she left that day, to meet her friend.

Later, it was the smile on her friend’s face, so caring, that broke her. Two weeks’ worth of tears fell at once.

It’s been ages since I’ve entered Julia’s 100 Word Challenge for Grown Ups, but this week with ‘the smile’ I just had to join in.

It’s also Julia’s 150th prompt, maybe some people have written 15000 words as a result! You can join in if you visit http://jfb57.wordpress.com/2014/09/29/100-word-challenge-for-grown-ups-week150/

Friday October 10th is World Mental Health Day, the focus this year is schizophrenia. To learn more visit http://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/our-work/world-mental-health-day/world-mental-health-day-2014/