By J.R. Adams

This poignant and haunting tale begins with the narrator's journey of placing his mother in a rural nursing home—a sanctuary that feels more like a retreat. As he adjusts to this new chapter in their lives, he encounters peculiar events, including an old man conversing with an unseen companion over tea. This eerie experience fades into the background as the narrator becomes consumed by the demands of life, gradually visiting his mother less frequently.

Through weekly visits, heartfelt conversations, and cherished memories like their tradition of biscotti and coffee, the narrator begins to notice a change in his mother. She speaks fondly of a childhood imaginary friend, describing a mysterious companion who brings her peace and solace in her final days. Her passing leaves him grappling with guilt and regret for not being present enough.

When he returns to the nursing home to collect her belongings, the narrator feels an unresolved pull. Revisiting the room where he first saw the old man, he encounters a mysterious figure—Death personified. This enigmatic entity, with swirling silver-and-black eyes, reveals that it had been his mother’s friend in her solitude, offering her comfort in her final moments. The figure speaks of its role as a companion to the forgotten, those nearing the end of their journey.

Struck by the weight of these revelations, the narrator is overwhelmed with sorrow and gratitude, realizing the figure’s compassion for his mother. In this profound encounter, the narrator is confronted with his own mortality and the inevitability of meeting the figure again when his time comes.

A poignant exploration of life, loss, and the quiet presence of companionship in death, The Interview with a Friend is a heart-rending reminder of the importance of connection and the bittersweet solace of an eternal friend at the end of life’s journey