How could I have known then that this same child would deliver the most fatal blow when I was at my lowest?
It was on a night about three months before they emigrated. I had suddenly collapsed.
As i drifted in and out of consciousness at the hospital, I overheard a call between Patrick and Daniel. Patrick was busy at a reuni- on with old classmates and hadn’t come to see me.
His father told him, “The doctor said the iliness isn’t hard to treat, it just takes time. What do you want to do?”
Daniel’s cold voice came through the phone. “Time is money. I don’t have time to waste on her. We can’t delay our emigration plans for her. Besides, I’ve been sick of her for decades. You could tell me she was dead right now and I wouldn’t want to see her. Just leave it. I’ll sell the house, find some place to stick her, and let her rot.”
Remembering that, I opened my door and followed Patrick.
Just to watch the show.
The rnoment I entered, I saw Daniel emerging from the bathroom, clutching his stomach, his face pale. He was clearly dehydrated. When he saw me, he stubbornly turned his head away. “Shouldn’t have come, should you?”
I shrugged and turned to leave.
The sound of a cup shattering came from behind me, followed by his tearful roar. “You’re my mother! Why are you always with Nina! I’m telling you, I forbid you from going back there! You come back here!”
I looked him straight in the eye. “I’m sick of you.”
His pupils contracted in shock. Two streams of tears rolled down his cheeks. He probably didn’t even realize he was crying so hard. Asi was about to take a step, I heard his desperate voice.
“Mom! My stomach hurts!”
I pulled the corner of my mouth into a slight smile and left without a moment’s hesitation.
My ex–mother–in–law chased after me, cursing, but before she got far, chaos erupted behind her.
Daniel had fainted.
13.34 M
Daniel had fainted.
They rushed him to the hospital.
And I had a wonderful night’s sleep.
The next day, I moved out. Firstly, I had found a new job and needed to be closer to the office. Secondly, my tutoring mission with Nina was complete. There was no reason for me to stay.
After a refreshing month at my new job, I received happy news from Nina. She had scored fifty–five points above the admission line for her dream university. She invited me to her celebration dinner.
I was thrilled for her.
After work, I went to buy her a gift. As I was walking, I got the feeling someone was following me again. I’d had this creepy feeling since the night after the exams.
I whipped around, but saw no one.
Fear, when pushed to its limit, turns into anger.
I gritted my teeth and hid in a corner.
A few seconds later, a figure hurried past.
I stuck out my foot.
The person turned, and I froze.
It was Daniel.
11
Caught, he scratched his head awkwardly.
I frowned. “What are you doing?”
His face crumpled, and he suddenly dropped to his knees in front of me.
“Mom, I was wrong! I’m begging you, please don’t leave me!”
He hugged my legs, tears and snot streaming down his face.
was a little stunned. Such a cold, detached person could actually kneel and beg?
I tried to pull my leg away. “Let go. I have nothing to do with you anymore!”
He shook his head frantically. “We’re mother and son, connected by blood! You can’t abandon me! On the day of the exam, I was toc nervous and too tired. I messed up. I only scored a little over four hundred. Whether I retake the year or go to a different school, I’ll do whatever you say!”
He held up three fingers. “I swear, from now on, I’ll only listen to you. I’ll never look down on you again. Please, come home with me! I really, really miss you, Mom!”
I was unmoved. In fact, I wanted to laugh.
“I don’t know if you’re being sincere or just putting on a show. Either way, I’m not interested in being your mother anymore.”
He followed me stubbornly, waiting outside my apartment complex for hours.
I had no choice but to move again
i changed my contact information and moved to a new city to start my life over.
TUOTE ANIOWII You’re being sincere or just putting on a show. Either way, I’m not interested in being your mother anymore.”
He followed me stubbornly, waiting outside my apartment complex for hours.
I had no choice but to move again.
I changed my contact information and moved to a new city to start my life over.
Later, I heard news about him from relatives back in my hometown. He couldn’t find me, so he went to my old village to wait for me. But I no longer had a home there. After a month, he left.
Apparently, he heard his father had brought a new woman home. My old neighbors told me the father and son had a massive fight. Daniel acted like he’d lost his mind, turning the house upside down. Patrick brought home three different women over the years. Daniel sabotaged every relationship.
In that state, his grades when he retook the year were even worse. He ended up at a local community college. He wasn’t content and insisted on studying in America. His doting grandparents gave him their life savings, even secretly selling the house to fund his dream. When Patrick found out, he was so furious he botched a major deal at work and was demoted to a junior salesman.
I sighed. I suppose that’s what you call karma.
i don’t know how many years passed.
I remarried.
My daughter was on school break, so my husband and I took her on a trip to America..
We were at a restaurant when a waiter came to serve our table.
“Hello, here is your…”
The familiar voice stopped abruptly as I looked up.
Daniel stared at me, mortified.
The words died on his lips when he saw my daughter.
He turned and fled.
My daughter looked at me, confused. “Mommy, do you know him?”
I smiled. “I used to. But not anymore. He’s just a passerby in my life.”
