The Phone Call I Didn't Answer

Dear God, Mom called at 3:17pm while I was in a meeting. Her voicemail said, "Just wanted to hear your voice, sweetie." I saved it to call back after dinner. At 3:42am, the hospital rang. The nurse said Mom had asked for me while stroking the photo in her wallet - my third-grade picture with missing front teeth. I keep that saved message on my phone still. Sometimes when my own daughter is at school, I call it just to hear Mom say "sweetie" again. You gave me a thousand chances to pick up, but I was always "so busy." Forgive me for not knowing which call would be the last.