A Mother Who Had Been Silenced for Years
Chapter 06 - A Mother Who Had Been Silenced for Years
Mom stayed at the hospital with Emily through the next day. When I brought coffee, she looked at me with an exhaustion that went deeper than the previous night's events.
“I need to apologize,” I told her.
She set down her cup. “For what?”
“For making you feel like you couldn't tell me what you saw.”
She looked at the sleeping girl in the bed. “I kept telling myself you were an adult. That I should let you make your own decisions. But when Emily started crying after your family dinners, I knew something was wrong.”
I swallowed. “Why didn't you insist?”
“I did. You said Vanessa was the family you were building and I needed to respect that.”
I remembered my words. They sounded terrible now, even though I'd said them calmly at the time.
Mom opened her phone and showed me messages from Emily. My sister had repeatedly asked her not to tell me when Vanessa made cutting remarks about her scholarship, her clothes, or the fact that she still relied on family support while studying.
“She was afraid you'd say she was jealous,” Mom whispered.
I took Emily's hand. When we were children, she'd followed me everywhere. After Dad died, I promised I'd always be there if she needed me. Somehow, I had become the person she was afraid to approach.
“I can't undo it,” I said.
“No,” Mom replied. “But you can stop repeating it.”
That afternoon, Emily woke enough to talk. I told her about the foundation investigation and asked what kind of help she wanted with the incident. She wanted the recording preserved, her medical expenses addressed, and the truth recognized. She didn't want reporters discussing her injury or turning her into a helpless symbol.
“I'm still the same annoying sister,” she said weakly.
May you like
I laughed through tears. “You're considerably more impressive than I ever gave you credit for.”
She squeezed my hand. “Then help me save Dad's building.”
