Owing My Parents Two Lives

Mary fainted due to overwork.

The doctor asked her to stay in the hospital for observation for a few days and got treatment.

Jack said to me, "Your mother is sick, so don't make her angry."

I smiled bitterly.

From childhood to adulthood, the question I thought about every day was why I always made my parents angry.

Why did my mother always scold me?

Why did my father always look at me with cold eyes?

Over the years, I hadn't been able to come up with an answer.

Early the next morning, Luis sent me a text message.

[Good morning, Jessica. Have you got up?]

I wanted to reply immediately, but I felt that just saying "good morning" would be too perfunctory.

After thinking for a long time, I didn't know what to say.

Mary woke up.

She said this had happened before, but she thought it was not a big deal and didn't take any medicine.

After waking up, she said she was fine and wanted to go home.

I knew she wanted to save money.

"The doctor recommended hospitalization for observation. I will pay the medical expenses."

Mary stopped me and said, "No need. Keep the money for yourself."

"You need to stay in the hospital, and I have money."

She said, "We also have money. Have we ever refused to give you money before?"

I stared at the ceiling of the hospital, lost in thought.

They had, but didn't remember that as if the suffering I had experienced seemed like a joke.

When I was in junior high school, my parents had a lot of fights.

I couldn't fall asleep at night and almost had a nervous breakdown.

Although I was in great pain, I didn't often ask them for money.

They always said, "If you need money, just tell us."

Later, I said, "Dad, the teacher asked us to pay 500 dollars to buy books."

Jack said, "Go ask your mother!"

Mary said, "Go ask your father!"

"Your mother keeps money to herself. Go ask her for it!"

"Your father is always generous to his friends. Is he unwilling to even give you five hundred dollars? Go ask him!"

In the end, I didn't get any money.

The teacher reached out to me and asked for money.

"I have no money."

The teacher sneered, "No money? Why did you go to junior high school if you didn't have money? You should go to work after graduating from elementary school.

"I have informed your parents about the payment. It is impossible for them not to know about it. Did you secretly spend the money?

"I tell you, a dishonest child like you will never achieve anything in your life!"

I thought my teacher was also a mother.

I didn't admit that I secretly spent the money.

Because of this matter, my parents were invited to the school.

Mary said to the teacher, "I gave her the money."

She didn't give me any money.

But their questioning looks were like knives, stabbing my body one after another as if saying, "She is such a bad student."

I wanted to explain.

But my throat was so dry that I couldn't utter any word to defend myself.

Mary paid the money to the teacher.

It took me a long time to suppress the discomfort in my throat, and I said, "Mom, you didn't give me money before."

Mary pretended not to hear and walked away.

Jack said to me, "Your mom knows that, but you have to give her face outside, you know?"

He went after Mary, and they had a rare conversation in harmony.

I was left behind.

They were reconciling, while I was like a rag doll cut into pieces.