I pushed open the door, the next puzzle awaiting me, and found myself standing in a place steeped in sorrow. It was my old home. Everything was exactly as I had left it, covered in the dust of time and memories.

Amid this heavy atmosphere, a faint sound reached my ears—a sound of pain and anguish, soft yet piercing. I followed it, my steps weighed down by dread. And then I saw her… my mother.

She was lying on the bed, her face pale, her eyes filled with the familiar warmth that had always comforted me. Her trembling voice called out to me:

“Come… I want to be with you. These are my final moments… Why did you leave me and go away?”

My heart felt like it was shattering. Tears streamed down my face as I approached her. I knelt beside her, overwhelmed by the sight of her frail form. She pulled me into a gentle embrace, and I broke down completely.

“I missed you so much, Mom. I missed you… Your son is tired of everything he’s been through.”

She smiled—a smile that carried all the love and strength I had known in my childhood. Her voice, though weak, was steady as she said:

“You are strong. You can get through all of this.”

Then she reached out and placed her hand gently on my cheek. For a brief moment, I felt the warmth I had longed for, the comfort I had lost. But suddenly… she slapped me.

The slap wasn’t harsh. It wasn’t meant to hurt. It was a reminder, a final lesson. Her smile widened slightly as she said, her voice filled with a familiar playfulness:

“You fool, be strong like your mother.”

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She laughed—a laugh that was both sweet and full of pain. But it was the last sound she made. Her eyes began to close, and her final breath faded away in my arms. My mother, the source of all tenderness, drifted into eternal rest while I held her close.

I didn’t move. I simply stayed there, holding her, trying to grasp the weight of this final goodbye.

I held onto her with all my strength, refusing to let go, as if her embrace was the only thing keeping me grounded. I looked into her eyes, my own filled with tears I refused to shed. With a voice trembling but resolute, I whispered:

"I won’t cry, Mom… I’ll get through this. I’ll fulfill your wish. I’ll be strong."

It felt as though she heard me, as if the warmth of her embrace gave me the strength I had long sought. Then, in the blink of an eye, everything changed.

I found myself back in the room of doors and mirrors. The air felt different this time, lighter, as if something inside me had been set free. I turned toward one of the doors, and its puzzle was finally solved. The lock clicked open quietly, as if acknowledging my success.

My gaze shifted to one of the illuminated mirrors. In its reflection, I saw myself—not as I was, but transformed. There I was, cradled in my mother’s embrace, sitting in a lush green garden. The scene radiated serenity and beauty, a vision of peace that seemed to transcend reality.

But I knew my journey wasn’t over yet. One last puzzle remained. I turned to face the final door, my heart pounding with a mix of anticipation and determination, ready to face whatever awaited me.

I stepped through the final door and found myself in a place unlike any other. A serene garden stretched endlessly before me, filled with vibrant, beautiful flowers. The air was pure, and the gentle breeze whispered to me: "Feel safe… you are home."

I walked slowly, savoring the peace around me, until my eyes caught sight of a little girl sitting among the flowers. She was smiling, her face glowing with innocence and warmth. I approached her, and she looked up at me with a soft voice:

“Can I have a flower?”

I glanced at the beautiful blossoms around me, carefully picking one. I held it out to her with a smile. She took it in her small hands, then looked into my eyes and said:

“You were here before. Back then, you didn’t want to give me anything. What changed?”

Her words struck something deep inside me. I sighed and replied:

“I was arrogant. I couldn’t see the true beauty of this place. How could I have been so blind, refusing a simple gift to a radiant child like you? I know I made you cry before, but now I see your comforting smile, and it feels like the light of your beautiful face has warmed my soul.”

The little girl smiled brightly, then stood up and began dancing among the flowers. Her laughter echoed through the garden, filled with pure joy. She laughed hysterically, her happiness lighting up the atmosphere.

As I watched her, I felt something shift inside me. Before I could process it, I was transported back to the room of doors and mirrors. But this time, it felt different.