I saw my father for the first time sitting nervously in the reception room, occasionally wiping his sweaty palms on his pants.It was the first time I'd seen him with a smile.As soon as I entered, he handed me a box of milk he had bought."Quincy, Dad wants to discuss something with you. Your sister is struggling with math. I was wondering if you could tutor her if you have time."I looked up, confused.Wasn't my father a math teacher? Why would he need me to tutor my sister?Father awkwardly ran his fingers through his thinning hair."You know how it is with family. I can't teach your sister well. I can't bring myself to be strict with her."My heart sank.When I was little, Father had chased me out of the house with a broom.He'd thrown rocks at me and hurled the vilest insults.I knew if I hadn't won that gold medal, he wouldn't even call himself my father.Miss Hudson was right. After I won the gold, everyone suddenly became nice.I declined Father's request. Perhaps
She couldn't accept that the reason she had hated me for all those years was based on a lie.In an instant, she visibly aged. The next time I saw her was at the airport.She stood at a distance, watching me leave.I pretended not to see her, saying goodbye to Miss Hudson instead.No, now she is my Hudson Mummy."It is very dry in winter there. Remember to moisturize often.""Don't try to save money. Make sure to get along with your classmates..."Only when Annette arrived did Hudson Mummy reluctantly say goodbye.I saw my mother again when I went back to visit Hudson Mummy.This time, I was leaving for a study abroad program.I came back to ease Hudson Mummy's worries.Over the years, I had earned good money working on projects with my advisor.I learned from the internet to hide a gold necklace in a Pringles can as a gift.Hudson Mummy's eyes were red.I happened to make eye contact with my mother standing by the window.She had lost weight and aged considerably, lookin
From my earliest memories, my mother dragged me along to confront my dad, using me as a tool to try to bind him down."That night was a mistake. Why did you keep this child without telling me?"Even if you had her, I'll never acknowledge her!"Mom viciously pinched my arm. I cried out in pain."She's your daughter. How can you be so cruel?""You're the cruel one! There was never any love between us. Using a child won't make us happy. I never liked you!"A crowd gathered, whispering and pointing.Mom seemed oblivious, crying on the sidewalk,Pinching me harder: "Useless thing! What good are you?"My wails grew louder.Dad turned and practically ran away.Mom finally let go, stood up, and walked off.Ignoring the pain, I hurried after her.I don't know when Mom's love for Dad turned to hate.For years, Mom kept me at arm's length, but I still loved her.On her birthday, I bought her earrings with money from my part-time job.I burst through the front door, elated.The li
But that person couldn't be me.In elementary school, I won first place in a math competition. The whole school competed.When I got the certificate, I raced home in excitement. I tripped and fell, but I didn't even feel the pain. I scrambled up and rushed to show Mom, eager to share my joy.Mom glanced at it, then tore my certificate to shreds."Why are you good at math?"You're my daughter. Why are you so much like him?"So what if you're like your father? He won't love you either!"Are you trying to upset me on purpose? Why math of all things?"All because my father was a math teacher.Mom destroyed everything I had that related to math.All those tests with bright red A+'s, she threw them into the fireplace, watching them turn to ash.I cried out, but her cold voice cut through the air: "You really aren't my daughter. You're his."From that day on, my mother wasn't Mom anymore. She was Miss Anderson.And I never dared to show any talent for math again.I sat awkwardly
Perhaps for an unloved child, even surviving takes tremendous effort.My relationship with my mother completely shattered when Bradley confessed his feelings for me.When he stood before me, face flushed, nervously saying "I like you," I was tempted to use him to get my mother's attention.In the end, I didn't. I turned Bradley down.But he persisted, coming to our house more often, even slipping love notes into my room.One day, I came home to find my mother waiting, letter in hand.Before I could speak, she slapped me hard across the face.I clutched my cheek, bewildered.She threw the letter at me."Bradley isn't like you. He's Ivy League material!""Your father doesn't care about you, and I can't control you. I'm not even your homeroom teacher. You could be working the streets for all I care!""But you absolutely cannot seduce my student!"Seduce? I couldn't fathom why that word came from my mother's mouth.But I refused to take the blame for something I hadn't done.
My hand froze mid-knock.Deep down, I knew Bradley wasn't the real reason. It was just a convenient excuse.My mother had probably wanted to cut ties with me for a long time.But she never had a good reason until now.With Bradley's situation, she could finally get rid of me, this burden that constantly reminded her of her shameful past.I only took the little stuffed bunny from the top of the box.It was a gift from Grandma, my only toy.Among all my possessions, it was the only thing that wasn't secondhand.The only thing that truly belonged to me.Even though I'd always known my mother didn't love me, when it actually came to this, my heart still ached unbearably.I gently touched the bunny's forehead, silently vowing that I would never abandon my little bunny.She was my only family in this world now.From now on, I only had her.The hundred bucks Dad gave me was my only savings.I couldn't bring myself to spend it on a motel room.Instead, I found an internet café t
The closet was stuffed full of garbage.I looked at them, but they only rolled their eyes at me.Then a bucket of cold water was poured over my head.The bucket was slammed onto my head, and they rushed forward to attack me."That's what you get for being that old hag's daughter! Serves you right!"So it turned out that all the students my mother adored actually hated her.I found it laughable. My mother treated them like her own daughters, and in the end...They were mostly privileged girls who had never truly suffered.Except for me, who had fought to survive since childhood, like a wild child.They were no match for me at all.I straddled them and fought back.But I was caught by the dorm supervisor.My mother rushed over.As soon as she arrived, she slapped me."Who gave you permission to touch my students?"The girls, with messy hair and pitiful faces, huddled behind my mother."Miss Anderson, we were just trying to help Quincy unpack. We didn't expect her to sudde
After years of being called ungrateful, what difference would it make to truly be ungrateful for once?I was determined to become a champion in the state competition, take first place in the nationals, and join the Olympic training team. I wanted to leave this place and go somewhere I truly belonged. Unfortunately, fate had never seemed to favor me.The state competition was held in the capital city, which would take hours to travel to from our small town. Even if I hadn't spent the hundred dollars Dad gave me, it wouldn't be enough.My fingers touched the locket on my necklace, a keepsake from Grandma.On her deathbed, Grandma had pressed the locket into my hand."All the money I've saved over the years is in here. My precious Quincy, when you need money, pawn it. Don't hesitate to use it. I won't be able to see you become a mathematician, but I'll watch over you from heaven..."Grandma... Grandma...Tears blurred my vision.I murmured her name over and over.My grip on t