The first event of my life to be printed into my memory occurred when I was three．My mother stands，working in the
(1) and then glances at me with a
(2) smile．Two feet down the table，I knock on a chair with a bowl and a spoon，
(3) my own invisible （无形的） powder．We wear
(4) dresses，mine the leftover
(5) from hers，sky blue-mommy's favorite color．I am her shadow．
However，by 14I could not
(6) my mother．All that I heard every day was NO．I wanted to dye my hair and she said no．I wanted to
(7) late with my friends and she said no．I didn't understand why she said no．She was trying to
(8) me from aches and pains and mistakes
(9) in her teens．Several years later，I finally understood her，but it was too late．She became ill．I cried and
(10) ，"Don't take her，God，please！She is my mother，my mommy，the woman who gave me life．All my years，
(11) the hard times and the good，she has been there，
(12) to me forever by an invisible umbilical cord （脐带） that lasts longer after birth．"But this cord，this love could do nothing to stop the cancer from
(13) ．
A few years later
(14) I myself lay in the hospital bed，my newly born daughter was
(15) in my arms．I cried and smiled and prayed．Please help me to
(16) her into a wonderful girl．And looking down
(17) her eyes，I could see the message they held，"Your
(18) would be proud．"
I stand in the kitchen now，and these thoughts flashed through my mind．I glance at my young daughter．A
(19) feeling rushes through my soul as I take in the familiar
(20) ．
I am my mother's shadow．