Chapter 7
He must have overheard everything. His eyes were wide with disbelief as he stared at me.
He probably thought that, after leaving him and his father, I would fall apart.
But he had seriously overestimated his importance in my life now.
Since then, whenever I was at school, there was always a small shadow following me.
I could see the effect it was having on him–his once proud demeanor was slipping, and his face was looking paler and more tired by the day.
His clothes were becoming ragged, and the other students who had once fawned over him now avoided him.
Theo had always been admired by his peers, just like his father, for his good looks.
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Chapter 7
But now that he looked disheveled, everyone steered clear.
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For someone as proud as Theo. itumust have been hard tto accept his new reality.
One day, during the break, I saw him huddled in a comer, crying.
When our eyes met, there was somethingim his gaze- expertation, perhaps, or hope.
“Mom. can you… can you help me wash my clbities?”
He choked on his words, quickly lowering his head, looking like a child who had done something wrong.
He looked so pitiful.
“Didn’t Cece wash your clothes for you? Why are you asking me? I’m not your mom anymore,” I said.. turning to leave..
But then he grabbed the sleeve of my shirt.
“Mom, you really don’t want me anymore? I know I was wrong. I don’t want Clete to be my mom either.”
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I calmly peeled his fingers off my sleeve and said, the words cold and cutting, “You know you were wrong? That’s your problem, not mine. I don’t want you anymore. If you can’t wash clothes, then learn. I owe you nothing.”
The light in Theo’s eyes dimmed at my words.
I had heard from others that after Victor and I divorced, Theo’s life hadn’t been easy.
On the day we filed, Victor had immediately married Celeste.
She became Theo’s “new mom.”
But Celeste had no idea how to take care of a child. She was relying on Theo and Victor to take care of her.
Victor was busy with his job as a firefighter, and
Celeste, being at home alone, started to demand more from Theo.
At only seven years old, Theo was expected to cook meals.
Chapter 7
When he couldn’t use the washing machine, Celeste cursed at him, eventually just sending her clothes to the dry cleaner while Theo was left in dirty clothes.
Theo couldn’t understand what had happened to Celeste. She had been so kind when they weren’t living together, but now that she was his mother, she was nothing like the woman he had known.
A mother shouldn’t be like that.
How many nights had he hidden in his blanket, secretly crying over burns and wounds, remembering how his real mother, though strict, had always cared for him so tenderly? He missed the way I used to prepare everything for him, making sure he was always comfortable and safe.
But now, despite his longing, he got nothing from me.
Theo seemed deeply affected by my rejection.
But that was no longer my concern.
