She ticked off the last item on the list. Her mother would never change, with her endless rules and checklists, but it did not matter any more.

Today was the day her mother would meet him, the love of her life. She was sure her authoritarian mother would adore him, how could she not? She rushed out of her room and was disappointed to see that her mother was not yet dressed. Any words she wanted to say were silenced by the ringing of the doorbell and she ran to answer it, to welcome him home.

Her mother did not move. She could not hear the bell but she waited; to hear the familiar wail and the thud of her falling daughter.

It was much later, after her distraught daughter had fallen asleep that she allowed the tears to fall as she placed a fresh checklist on the dresser.

Three years ago, her excited daughter had answered the bell, expecting to see the man she loved, only to be greeted with the news that he had died in an accident. Her daughter had collapsed in shock.

She could never forget that day, while her daughter never remembered that moment.

Word count - 199

This is my entry for prompt by Microbytes - Obstacles and Obsessions for the Trial of Love Contest.

"Two people in love, separated by what seems impossible odds, have to deal with the struggle of being apart."

The story had to be between 101 and 199 words.

My submission deals with anterograde amnesia.