Chapter 3 I Am No Longer Your Mother
I returned to my little rented apartment.
It might be small, but it had a warmth that felt like home.
I settled into my old routine, writing articles during the day and watering the succulents by the window in my spare time.
Roger and Orion were nothing but distant memories now.
Life was getting back on track, except for one little detail–Mia Simons.
A few days ago, as I was leaving the building, I stumbled upon a dirty little girl huddled in the stairwell.
She looked to be about seven or eight, her small frame curled up tightly, not moving an inch.
I asked my neighbors about her.
They told me she had been kicked out by her stepmother and that her biological parents treated her like a burden.
No one was willing to step up and take responsibility for her.
Seeing the pity on my neighbors‘ faces, I couldn’t just walk away.
I dropped a bag of bread in front of her.
“Here, eat this,” I said softly, crouching down to meet her gaze.
It took her a while, but she finally looked up at me.
I felt a wave of relief wash over me when I saw her take a bite of
the bread.
But instead of leaving, the girl trailed behind me like a lost puppy, clutching the bag to her chest, her eyes wide with fear as if she thought I might push her away.
I tried to harden my heart, but compassion won out in the end.
After some back and forth, I decided to take her in.
Mia was a sweet girl. Whenever I worked, she quietly tidied up the apartment.
Whether it was folding blankets or doing laundry, her
movements were so practiced that it was like she had done it a thousand times before.
I often wondered what a seven–year–old like her had been through.
Orion, her age, still needed my help just to pour a glass of water.
One day, I lost track of time while writing.
Suddenly, I was jolted back to reality when Mia gently opened
my door, carrying a cup of warm water.
“Mom, drink this,” she said quietly.
The soft yellow light illuminated her, making her look unbelievably sweet.
It reminded me of Orion.
I recalled a time when I was bedridden with a bad cold, feeling utterly drained and my throat raw with pain.
Orion, on the other hand, was sprawled on the couch, completely absorbed in his video games, laughing and having a blast.
“Orion, could you get me a glass of water?”
His little face scrunched up in annoyance, a perfect mirror of Roger’s impatience.
“Mom, you’ve got to handle your own stuff. Ms. Miller wouldn’t be this much of a hassle.”
Lost in my thoughts, I suddenly felt a soft, warm hand gently caressing my cheek.
That was when I realized I was crying.
“Mom, don’t cry,” Mia said, straining to lift her arm, her eyes filled with concern.
I quickly wiped my tears and pulled her into a tight embrace.
From that moment on, we would lean on each other.
I never expected trouble to come knocking so soon.
Just after I picked Mia up from school one day, I ran into Orion.
He was holding Roger’s hand with one hand and Lillian’s with the other, laughing and looking like the picture of happiness.
Lillian gazed at Roger with a soft, shy look, while Orion, the little comedian, was doing his best to make her smile.
Without me, they seemed like a perfect little family.
In the past, this sight would have crushed me, and I might have shouted at Roger in a fit of rage.
But thankfully, that wasn’t who I was anymore.
As I contemplated playing it cool and walking past them like a stranger, Orion spotted me instantly.
His eyes lit up at first but then quickly darkened with anger.
He let go of Roger and Lillian’s hands and stormed over to me.
“Who said you could hold my mom’s hand?” he demanded, chin raised defiantly, his little face scrunched up in displeasure.
Mia, unlike her usual shy self, tightened her grip on my hand
and pressed her lips together, her eyes narrowing at Orion with a hint of defiance.
“She’s my mom,” Mia asserted firmly, standing her ground in front of Orion.
For a brief moment, Orion seemed taken aback. Then he looked up at me with disbelief.
“No way! You’re so mean for stealing someone else’s mom!”
His little face flushed with anger, and in a fit, he shoved Mia to the ground.
I frowned, quickly helping Mia back to her feet, ready to scold Orion for his behavior.
But Mia didn’t back down; she pushed Orion back with determination.
His tiny frame wobbled for a moment before he tumbled over, crashing to the ground.
The impact seemed to sting because he immediately burst into tears, flailing his legs in a dramatic display of protest.
“Mom, she’s bullying me!” he cried out, his tears smearing across his cheeks.
Honestly, I felt no sympathy for him.
I just stood there, arms crossed, watching him throw a tantrum.
“Listen. Orion, I’m not your mom anymore.
“Your favorite Ms. Miller is right here with you.
“You should be telling her all this, not me,” I replied coolly.
