Elegy

Roger Nordquist hasn’t seen his mother in forty years, but suddenly gets a call, telling him that she listed him as next of kin. Roger never expected to have any news—but now hears the words ‘stage-four cancer.’ He doesn’t want his mother to suffer, but affection evaporated long ago. Moments of kindness are hard to find in childhood memories. He searches for a compelling reason to help her, but none comes to mind. Then he witnesses another family’s closeness as they deal with final illness. Despite compelling reasons to turn his back, Roger brings his estranged mother home.