Tom told her to stop talking.
My mother–in–law didn’t know her son.
く
He spent it on his mistress.
I saw him with another woman at the store.
Once a cheater, always a cheater.
He wouldn’t be faithful.
I said, “Check his spending. You might find
something.”
His mom did, and found a lot of hotel
bookings.
She asked Tom if his mistress was pregnant
with a boy.
His mistress found out he cheated, and
demanded a divorce.
L
She went to the hospital and had an abortion.
She ran into my daughter in the line.
Tom and his mom found out, and it was a
mess.
I didn’t pay attention after that.
They were nothing to me.
The national art competition came, and I went
with Christine.
The artists went on stage, and talked about
their art.
I saw Christine’s work for the first time.
く
She wanted to keep it a surprise.
It was a big surprise.
It wasn’t just her skill, but the meaning.
She drew a mom holding a child.
The mom’s heart was cracked, and the child
was filling it with paint.
The mom’s hair was blue, like a river.
And she was wearing a koi fish pin.
“My inspiration is my mom.”
“She’s not my real mom, but she’s better.”
“Without her, I wouldn’t be here, and this
ᄀ
“My parents didn’t want me to do art, but she
helped me, supported me, encouraged me.”
“I want to be with her forever, and heal her
heart.”
“She’s like a river, pushing me forward.”
I was crying.
The judges and audience were silent, and
then applauded.
A high school student made this art.
It was sincere, meaningful, and moving.
I clapped too.
I knew she would win.
Finally, she said.
“I’m Christine, and she’s Janice.”
“We saved each other.”
“We were meant to be.”
(The End)
[Bonus: Brittany’s Epilogue]
Mom’s name was on TV.
It was with that girl.
The girl won first place, and was going to a
top school for free.
Why couldn’t that be me?
And the message was so stupid.
If Mom was the river, then I’m the pond.
She should have forgiven me.
Why wouldn’t she?
Why wouldn’t she love me?
Tears fell.
I was useless.
Since being in bed, I’ve been crying every day.
I don’t know why, but I can’t stop crying.
It must be from the disease.
I used to not cry.
It has to be.
Everyone says you get sick from that disease.
It’s contagious.
I’m dirty, no one wants me.
I have HIV.
If they didn’t check before my abortion, I
wouldn’t know.
It was my ex.
He should die.
No, it’s my fault.
I should have listened to Mom.
I deserved this.
For listening to his sweet lies, and Tom’s fake
love, I gave up the best mom ever.
I created the cracks in Mom’s heart.
And others fixed it.
Mom was being nice to others.
She didn’t want me.
My tears blurred my vision, I couldn’t see
Г
I was blind.
The doctor said I cried too much.
I was also diagnosed with depression.
I laughed.
My punishment was here.
I was waiting for more.
If I suffered enough, my mom would want me.
She would hold my hand, and take me to art
class.
She would make me hot soup on cold days.
The soup smelled good.
I miss it so much.
I was blind, and couldn’t see.
I just laid in bed, facing darkness and silence.
I started getting headaches, and couldn’t
sleep.
I took medicine, but it didn’t work.
I wanted to take more, but the doctor said I
couldn’t.
It hurt too much.
I took a bottle.
<
It hurt too much.
I took a bottle.
Finally, I was sleepy.
I thought I saw Mom’s face.
She smiled.
I was falling.
I fell into Mom’s arms.
It was warm.
I was finally with Mom.
