The Unlikely Email
Three months went by in this painful limbo. Then, an email arrived. It was from her.
It had No subject line. No “Hi Mom.” Just the stark, clear message:
I reread that note over and over again. Someone I’d never expect?
I went over every person I could think of for hours. Old friends? Distant cousins? The parents of a school friend? Every possibility brought me to a dead end, and my mind started racing through every dark place too.
I replied instantly, pleading with her to make one phone call. Just to let me hear her voice and know she was truly okay. She didn’t reply. Yet, I saw the small digital confirmation: She read the email. I saw the read receipt. I didn’t know if I should feel a small sense of relief or feel completely crushed that she wouldn’t respond.
By this time, the inheritance money was truly gone. It had been used to cover tuition, uniforms, transport, and school events. I had already drained the account. I kept repeating the thought to myself: I told myself it was an investment in both their futures. That she’d understand someday. But my hope was fading rapidly.
A Birthday Rejected
Continue reading…
