After mom

9

“Abigail, please save me. Jacob has gone mad, he’s trying to kill me! Ah! Don’t come any closer..”

Through the phone, I heard Jacob’s voice, cold as a ghost’s, “Emma Wilson, you ruined me, ruined my son, ruined our family! We’re both scum. We’ve wronged Abby and her mom. We should both die. Come with me to apologize to the dead.”

Then, accompanied by Emma’s terrified screams and the sound of rushing wind, there were two loud thuds, and everything fell silent.

Emma and Jacob were dead.

This news quickly made headlines, sparking another round of public discussion.

The series of scandals inevitably made me the center of attention and discussion as well.

My boss, seeing my predicament, happened to have a regional manager position open at an out–of–town branch. He decided to send me there.

Before leaving, I visited my mom’s grave one last time, telling her I was going to work in another city and that I would listen to her advice and live well.

I didn’t tell anyone I was leaving, but Jacob’s mother still managed to bring Lucas to see me off.

Lucas cried, begging me not to go.

Jacob’s mother said Lucas had already lost his father and couldn’t lose his mother too. She asked me to have pity on the child.

I asked them to have pity on me too. I told them really couldn’t face Lucas anymore.

Every time I saw him, I was reminded of my mom’s death, of how he had said such hurtful things to me, of how disgusted he had been with me.

Looking at him, I calmly said, “In this world, everyone should be responsible for their own actions, children included. No one has special privileges. Not everything can be forgiven just by saying sorry. Some hurts, once inflicted, can never be undone.”

“A mother has no obligation to unconditionally forgive and accept a child, and a child has no special right to expect forgiveness after repeatedly causing harm. It doesn’t make sense. We’re all human, who’s more special than the other?”

Lucas stared at me blankly, not saying a word for a long time.

TUOTTO NITOW i ne truly understood, but it no longer mattered to me.

Coming to a new city was a fresh start.

My work was fulfilling and busy. Occasionally, I would have small gatherings with colleagues after work. During holidays, I would return to my hometown to pay respects to my mom.

Two years passed, and I had a new family. My husband loves me very much, and we live happily together.

I also have a daughter now. She’s adorable. From the womb to the postpartum period, she has always been considerate of me as her mother. She never fusses, always smiling, eating and sleeping well, and can even soothe herself when she wakes up. She doesn’t cause any trouble at all.

Friends and family all say my daughter must be here to repay a debt of gratitude. They’ve never seen such an easy baby to care for, and they envy my good fortune.

I smile, feeling grateful too. It must be my mom watching over me from heaven, blessing me with such a well–behaved child.

Mom, can you see? Your daughter is very happy now.