6
I made lunch, but Mom didn’t come out to
eat.
She told me to get out and said she didn’t
want to hear my voice.
She also threatened me by saying that if I
dared to leave, she’d call the police, as if I
were the one who would be embarrassed.
“I’m not going anywhere. I’m spending the
holidays with you.”
Mom got even angrier.
She stayed in her room all afternoon.
When Dad came home from work, he brought
her lunch, which made her feel a little better.
Afterward, Dad took me to the backyard and
told me I shouldn’t have embarrassed Mom.
“Your mom has a lot of pride. What you said
made it hard for her to see her friends.”
“They kicked her out of the group chat.”
He tried to talk me into apologizing to the
friends, and saying I was upset and made
things up.
I refused.
Dad tried to convince me, but I refused to
change my mind.
“You’re not as sensible as you used to be.”
Dad said.
“Even when you were acting out, at least
you’d listen to Mom and Dad. You wouldn’t
make your mom lose face.”
I didn’t say anything.
く
When you don’t expect anything from others,
you won’t let yourself be hurt.
Yesterday, I coughed all night.
My back hurt so badly I couldn’t sleep.
Mom was mad and wanted me to die so she
could sleep.
This is the last winter.
I’ll let you have me for one more winter.
