My one-eyed Mom

My mom had only one eye. I hated her. For me, she's an embarrassment. I hated every time she goes to my school to cook for the kids at school and teachers at the canteen to support the family.

One day, mom passed by our classroom after delivering the food ordered by one of the teachers. She stop by and said hello to me. I was so embarrassed that I wanted to vanish that instant. How dare she do this to me? I already told her many times at home to never approach me or talk to me. I ignored her and threw her a look full of contempt and disdain, and I ran out.

The next day at school as I entered the classroom, I heard my classmates talking about me having a one-eyed mom. "Sherwin, that was your mom yesterday, right? Your mom has only one eye!" and the room is filled with laughter. I wanted to bury myself alive. I am very much embarrassed and the only I could think of is for my mom to disappear.

As soon as I got home, I went directly to the back portion of the house where I found her doing the laundry. I confronted her and said, "If you're only going to make me a laughing stock, why don't you just die?" She did not respond. I didn't feel any guilt and I didn't even stop to think for a second about what I had said, because I was full of anger. I was oblivious to her feelings.

I wanted out of the house and be out of the embarrassment she was bringing into my life. So, I studied real hard and got a chance to study abroad with the help of the scholarship I applied for at school.

Years passed, and I became successful, got married, bought a house, and had kids of my own. This is the happiest moment of my life. I am happy with my wife, my kids, and my comfortable life.

I never thought of her anymore but one day, my mother came to visit me. She hadn't seen me in years and hadn't seen her grandchildren yet.

When she stood by the door, my children laughed at her. I yelled at her for coming over uninvited. "How dare you come to my house and scare my children! Get out of here! Now!" And to this, she quietly answered, "Oh, I'm sorry. I may have gotten the wrong address," and she disappeared out of sight.

One day, I received a letter inviting me to our school reunion. I decided to go but I lied to my wife that I was going on a business trip. After the reunion, I went to the old shack, just out of curiosity.

The people nearby said that she died. I did not shed a single tear upon hearing it. She is dead to me a long time ago. Someone handed me a letter that was from my mother that she wanted me to have.

My dearest son,

I think of you all the time. I'm sorry that I came to your house and scared your children.

I was so glad when I heard you were coming for the reunion. But I may not be able to even get out of bed to see you. I'm sorry that I was a constant embarrassment to you when you were growing up.

You see, when you were very little, you got into an accident, and lost your eye. As a mother, I couldn't stand watching you having to grow up with one eye. So I gave you mine.

I was so proud of my son who was seeing a whole new world for me, in my place with that eye.

With all my love to you,

Your mother

Lead image from Google.

Thank you <3