literature

When Your Mother is a Stranger

Deviation Actions

akunamaru's avatar
By
Published:
374 Views

Literature Text

Dear mom,
To my mother,

It's me, your only daughter. I know you don't know me, just like I don't know you. From what I understand, you gave birth to me and then abandoned me left me with my dad. I don't know your reasons for doing this, and I'm not going to question you about it, though I can not see any reason why you would do such a thing.

You have been on my mind a lot lately. Ever since dad gave me your address, you're all I could think about. I am not sure if that is a good thing or not. I think my teachers think that I am depressed, or even suicidal. I suppose I am, in a way. With all that I am going through, how could I not be?

I've decided to write to you for a very important reason. Dad is dying. He has a very rare form of cancer. The doctors have no cure for it and give him a couple of months to live at most. He's told me about you when he found this out. He said I should ask you to take me in, since he's going to die. I don't know why he suggested that. He must be delusional from the experimental drugs he is taking. Honestly, what do they give people at hospitals these days?

I don't want to believe that he is dying, but it's the truth. He said that I shouldn't worry about him. It's how things were supposed to be. So, I am taking his advice and not dwelling on it, though I can't stand the thought of the only person in my life that I could trust him dying.

I've heard many bad things about the foster care system and orphanages, and though I hate to admit it, I'm terrified to be sent to one. I am not an orphan, and I won't be one when dad dies. I haven't had a bad childhood. Mine has only been deprived of a mother.  I don't have a reason to be put into the system. It'd almost be too much to deal with. I'd rather live with family than live with strangers, even if you are a stranger to me just as they would be. So, I wouldn't be able to live with people I know no matter what I choose.

I'm praying you find it in your heart to take me into your home. I'm old enough to fend for myself mostly. I can get a job to supply to own food, and other things. I already have clothes so I won't need any help with that much. The only thing I would really need your help with is a place to live and sleep at. The rest I can do independently. So, I wouldn't be much of a burden when it comes to money.

I won't have to stay with you long, though I hope you'll let me stay after my eighteenth birthday. I'm fifteen (my birthday was last month). At the very least, I'd have to stay with you for three years. After that, you can kick me out if you want to do so. If you think about it that is not much time, in the long run. Three years are nothing more than a small chunk in your life. I would only have to be that one small chunk. After that, you can forget about me entirely.

I hope that you accept my request to live with you. I pray with all my heart that you do. If you do, write me back, or better yet, call me. I have written my address and cell phone number at the bottom this letter. Call me at anytime. I'm always up and about. If you do wake me up when you call, it doesn't matter. I can always fall back asleep later. If you decide not to take me in, please, do not reply to this letter in any way. I would rather be able to believe you didn't get my letter and still want me than to know for a fact you don't want me and would prefer to never meet me. It will be easier to deal with later down the road, though deep down, if I do not get a response a piece of my heart will break away.

With love,
Signed your daughter,
Katherina Michelle Williams

PS: If you have other family, I will try my best to fit in. I'm not that much of a people person. I can try to be if that is what you want to be. I will do anything for you to except me as someone in your family. I do not want to be in the background.


Alicia Shannon Rogers clutched the letter tightly in her hand. It was faded and wrinkled, an obvious sign that it had been read many times. The letter had originally been folded in perfect thirds and placed in a pristinely white envelope. The handwriting on the note had been written in a clear legible print, but it was now smeared into the paper. It was torn on one end from it being opened too quickly.

The letter had arrived yesterday. Alicia had read the letter at least a hundred times. She probably had it memorized. It was hard not to. Her first child and only daughter had contacted her. She hadn't seen her since she was almost two weeks old. That was a long time ago, back when she was sixteen. Her own daughter was almost as old as she was when she gave birth to her. That thought was kind of scary.

The door to the master bedroom opened. Alicia's husband, Sean Rogers, walked in. She quickly folded the letter back up so he couldn't read it. She didn't want him to know about her daughter. She hadn't decided yet what to do. She disliked the thought of her daughter being in a foster home, but she wasn't sure how to proceed.

"Hey, honey," Her husband kissed her on the cheek. She smiled weakly up at him. He knew her well enough to know it was forced. "What's wrong?"

"It's nothing." She stated. She winced when it came out very fake sounding.

"Lee-Cee," He sat down next to her. "Tell me what's wrong. The sitter called me and said she had the boys for the day. The last time you did that was when your dad died. Is it your mom?"

She flinched when he said mom. "No, my mom's fine."

"Then what?" He wrapped a consoling arm around her shoulder.

Knowing she didn't deserve consolation, she shrugged it off. "I'm a terrible mother."

"No you're not." He responded without any hesitation. "The boys love you. I love you. I can't imagine anyone else being their mother. I can't imagine anyone else by my side."

"No, I'm terrible." She shook her head and began to cry. Sean immediately wrapped both his arms around her. This time, she didn't push him away. "I did something terrible, something so terrible I had to force myself to forget it so I wouldn't wake up screaming from nightmares every night."

"It can't be that bad." Sean always thought the best in people, until he saw their worst. Even then, he treated people fairly.

With shaking hands, Alicia took out the worn, ripped, and tear-stained letter. It took Sean about two minutes to read it. She closed her eyes when he got to the end. She didn't want to see his face when he learned what a bad person she was.
I've had this lurking on the computer since freshman year. I decided to post it after I realized how long it's been since I posted something, and though I don't have watcher just aching to see what I post next, I felt the need to post it.

~Teily

Also, if I get enough faves and good reviews I'll write another part. I've gotten good feedback from people on other sites for some of my stories, and I want to know if I'm an even slightly decent writer
© 2011 - 2024 akunamaru
Comments4
Join the community to add your comment. Already a deviant? Log In
lylylovesart's avatar
I really would like to read what happens next! This is pretty interesting. Favorite well deserved. :)