Chapter 6
“You’re… busy? But you’re my mother. You can’t be busy.”
Theo’s voice cracked with frustration and anger.
But the patience I usually had with him had worn thin. “Didn’t you say you didn’t want me to be your mother anymore? Now you have a new mom, so don’t come bothering me,” I snapped.
Without giving him a chance to react, I hung up the phone, ignoring the stunned silence on the other end.
Taking a child to the hospital alone was no small task, especially when Theo was younger.
I had to carry him, calm him down when he was uncomfortable, and make sure he didn’t cause a scene. It was exhausting.
I glanced at my left hand, noticing how the years of carrying him had left me with tendinitis.
Every little movement would send a sharp pain through my wrist.
But no matter how much it hurt, I pushed through.
24
Maybe that was just what being a mother was–putting my own pain aside for my child.
But it was so, so tiring.
I didn’t want to be anyone’s wife or mother anymore.
I just wanted to be me.
The divorce had little impact on me, if anything, it was like a weight had been lifted.
Without Victor and Theo draining me, I felt better, both physically and emotionally.
When school resumed after summer vacation, several of the teachers asked if something good had happened at home.
I smiled and answered casually, “Yes, something happened. I divorced Victor.”
They paused and then quickly congratulated me.
“You should have divorced long ago. He doesn’t even care about the family, and you were doing everything alone, raising Theo. How much have you suffered?”
“Exactly, but you know, your son isn’t a very thoughtful one. In the last semester, the essay topic was about mothers, and he wrote about someone named Celeste‘ Harper instead.”
“Talk about an ingrate,” one of them muttered sympathetically.
The other teachers nodded in agreement but cautiously glanced at my expression.
“Don’t feel bad,” one of them said softly.
I smiled, trying to reassure her. “I’m fine. Actually, I gave up custody.”
“Good for you! He deserves that.”
“If he wants someone else to be his mom, then let her be. It’s not my problem anymore.”
I nodded, my face a picture of relief.
Not my problem anymore.
But just as I turned to leave, I noticed a small figure standing by the door.
It was Theo.
