Liam came while I was asleep.
I drifted back to consciousness hearing his voice mingled with Mom's.
"Liam, look what my girl's gone through because of you!"

"She bottles everything up! An abortion – do you know how much that wrecks a woman's body? And she tried to hide it!"
Liam's voice sounded like dry leaves scraping pavement, devoid of life,
"Aunt Carol, it's all my fault. I'll compensate her. Whatever it costs."
"Oh, Liam honey, we're practically family! Don't talk about money! But Sophie... she can't work right after this. She needs rest and proper care..."
"Aunt Carol, I'll transfer two hundred thousand to your account first. If I sent it to Sophie... she'd just send it back."
"Yes, yes, you know her so well."

"Aunt Carol, please, take good care of her. Anything she needs, call me immediately."
"Of course, dear, of course. I still hope you two can patch things up."
As Liam's footsteps faded down the hall, I opened my eyes,
"Mom, since you took Liam's money, let him fund your retirement. Don't come to me anymore."

Mom, humming and pouring soup from a thermos, jumped,
"Sophie! What nonsense! I don't want this money! It's for you!"
Exhaustion and utter disappointment crashed over me.
Looking at my own mother, I suddenly felt I didn't know her.
Just as she’d given birth to me but never truly understood the person I was.
She didn't believe I meant what I said.
And I was too drained to explain.