This was the first time a major desire of his hadn’t been met. In the past, his grandparents fulfilled his small wishes, and I ran aro-
und handling the big ones. This time, the opportunity he had been dreaming of had vanished.
The immense psychological blow was too much for him to handle.
He screamed and yelled, smashed things, and threatened to jump from the balcony, waking up the entire building. Neighbors came
knocking, and the chaos escalated.
Finally, the police knocked on my door.
“As the child’s mother, why weren’t you the first to check on him when he was having a breakdown?”
My mother–in–law’s tragic wails echoed from next door, somehow painting me as a deadbeat mother who had abandoned her fami-
- ly.
Patrick leaned against the doorframe, his face covered in stubble, his clothes wrinkled. He looked at me with resentment. “Give her a good talking–to, officer. A woman who won’t stay home and take care of her child and husband, who just throws tantrums and wants a divorce.“/
I calmly played a recording from my phone.
My son’s birthday wish rang out, loud and clear. Every single thing they had said to me that day now played back for all to hear, like
a series of invisible slaps across their faces.
My mother–in–law’s face turned pale; she even forgot to cry.
The neighbors started chiming in.
“So that’s what happened! I was wondering why such a devoted mother would suddenly abandon her family. Turns out they’re a
bunch of ungrateful vipers! I’d run too!”
“Exactly! Everyone in this complex knows how much Eliza gave to that family. The only reason Danny always got first place was because of her sleepless nights!”
“What’s the use of giving so much when you have meddling in–laws, a useless husband, and most importantly, an ungrateful kid? Being a mother in that house must be hell.”
“They’re already divorced! I can’t believe they have the nerve to blame Eliza. I heard them arguing that day. They were the ones who kicked her out, and now they’re saying she’s the one throwing a tantrum. They’ll say anything!”
“You’re just finding out now they have no shame? They treated Eliza like a workhorse and then called her useless. Well, look at
them now. Life isn’t so easy without her, is it? Serves them right!”
The glares from the neighbors made Patrick shrink in shame. Daniel had vanished at some point, probably hiding out of embarras-
sment.
Finally, the police understood the situation and left me alone.
That night, I received a text from Daniel.
(Don’t get too smug. Without you, without America, I’ll still make something of myself!]
Daniel’s pride was immense. After being called out by the neighbors, he stopped acting like a coward.
On the day the 30–day waiting period for the divorce er.ded, Patrick hadn’t planned on going. Daniel dragged him there.
He still had the same line without me, he’d be better off.
Chapter 2
He still had the same line: without me, he’d be better off.
The moment I held the divorce certificate, the weight on my chest finally lifted.
Seeing me smile so happily, the faces of the father and son duo turned black.
Patrick stomped his foot in frustration. “I’m going to find a new woman today!”
I just laughed. “Who cares? Do whatever you want.”
A burst of laughter erupted from the people around us. He stormed off in a huff.
A moment later, I got a text from him.
[Get ready for a hard life without me! At your age, let’s see who’ll marry you!]
13:34
I blocked his number and calmly went to pick up Nina from school. Her grades were improving steadily, and this was a critical time; we couldn’t afford to slack off. Her dad, wanting me to focus on tutoring her, even started cooking all my meals.
The girl was a hard worker. Even on weekends, she wouldn’t rest, getting up early to memorize vocabulary with me in the nearby park.
On our way home one morning, we ran into my former mother–in–law returning from the Patricket. She was walking so fast her hair was a mess, a clear sign she had missed the prime shopping time and was rushing home to cook. Before her son got married, they had a housekeeper. After, I did everything. She had barely done a chore in her life.
In just a few months, she had aged considerably, looking a decade older.
When she saw me, she snorted. “A country girl is a country girl. Tutoring someone else’s kid while ignoring her own son. She’ll die alone in a ditch one day, a pathetic fate!”
Nina immediately started to defend me.
I squeezed her hand, shook my head, and said in English, “Arguing with people like that is just a waste of time.”
She replied in fluent English, “Actually, they’re very anxious for you to come home, teacher. They’re just too proud to admit it.”
My ex–mother–in–law, not understanding English, grew flustered. “What are you two mumbling about me? Stop showing off! My gra- ndson speaks English too! He’s been studying so hard lately, staying up until three every night! You think a mediocre little girl like you can get first place? In your dreams!”
She stomped off home.
As I passed their door, I heard my son’s voice. “What? You heard Nina speaking English? Impossible! Her English used to be the worst in our class!”
I smiled faintly
It seemed he had forgotten.
His English used to be terrible too. I wasn’t great at much, but English was my one strength. It took me three months to fix his fou- ndations, and another six before he had the confidence to speak it out loud. In that regard, Nina was far ahead of him.
At some point, a rumor started spreading through the complex that the two kids were in a secret competition. The main topic of gossip was betting on who would score higher. Most people were betting on Daniel. He had the track record, after all. Nina had improved, but time was short.
I told her to ignore the noise and stick to her own pace.
Soon, it was the second–to–last day before the exams. Nina was too nervous to sleep. I had her put her phone on speaker and told her a story. I talked about my childhood in the countryside.
“Life was simple back then, and education was
rs could speak with a standard.
Chapter 2
1334
“Life was simple back then, and education was even simpler. None of the teachers could speak with a standard accent. We all
picked up their funny ways of talking. But we were happy. After school, we’d go catch frogs in the fields or jump rope together. Wh-
en it was time, we’d go home for dinner. My mom loved making green beans for me. She said they’d make me smarter…”
I don’t know how long I talked, but eventually, I heard Nina’s soft snores. I hung up and was about to go to sleep myself when a fran-
tic knocking rattled my door.
It was Patrick, shouting.
“Eliza, come quick, look at Danny! His stomach is killing him, and he refuses to go to the hospital!”
10
Daniel had irritable bowel syndrome. When he was stressed, his stomach would ache, he’d get diarrhea–a whole host of uncomfo- rtable symptoms. The same thing had happened before his middle school entrance exams. I had stayed up all night rubbing his stomach and telling him stories until he finally relaxed.
learned
arned my lesson. Before every major exam, I would prepare meticulously to distract him, to help him forget his anxiety and get a good night’s sleep. I even made a fool of myself, dressing up in silly costumes to make him laugh.
Back then, a neighbor said I was spoiling him. I said it was fine; if I was good to my child, my child would be good to me.
