I am Emily, 73 years old. A mother who has been through all the storms of life, and I thought that in my old age I would finally find peace with my family. After my husband passed away, I left our old brick and wood house and moved to the city to live with my only son — Evan, and his wife — Rachel.
At first, I thought I would be happy. Evan was a successful company director, with a large and luxurious condo in the middle of the city. But soon, I noticed that the brilliance of the city was accompanied by a coldness — a coldness that seemed to suffocate my heart.
1. The Silence in a Luxurious Home
Every night, the three of us rarely sat at the dining table together.
“Evan, aren’t you going to eat with us?” I asked while fixing the rice.
He just looked at his watch. “I still have work to do, Mom. Eat.”
Rachel was silent, barely able to look at us.
“Just a little, honey… the soup is still hot…”
“I don’t have the appetite! Stop it!” Cường hissed, slamming his spoon on the table.
I gasped. His gaze — cold, fierce — was the same as my husband’s gaze before, before he hurt me.
Rachel was silent, forcing a smile.
“It’s nothing, Mom… maybe he’s just tired.”
But I saw… on his hand, there was a bruise — dark, still fresh.
2. Three in the Morning — The Sound of Water
In the evening, I woke up to the sound of water from the bathroom. It was already three in the morning.
I frowned. “Why is Evan taking a bath at this hour?”
But the sound was strange. It wasn’t continuous — it sounded like crying… or panting.
I approached, slowly, and peeked through the small crack in the door.
And when I saw it… I froze where I was standing.
There was Rachel, shivering, trying to wash the bruises on his arms and shoulders.
Evan was standing next to him — cold, like a rock. In his hand he was holding a wet towel.
“You thought I didn’t know you were calling someone earlier, huh?” Evan snorted.
“No… just Mom… I just asked if she wanted to eat…”
“Liar!” he shouted, and BANG! — a slap thundered in the bathroom.
Rachel sat on the floor, soaking wet, sobbing.
I covered my mouth, stifling my scream. My heart sank.
My son, whom I raised with all my love… was hurting his wife.
Just like his father had done to me.
3. The Morning of Fake Smiles
The next day, while we were eating breakfast, I asked Rachel:
“Son, what happened to your hand?”
He was surprised, quickly hiding his hand under the table.
“Ah… it got stuck in the door, Mom. It’s nothing.”
Evan came out, smiling, hugging his wife.
“It’s just a little bit, Mom. My wife is a lamp, isn’t it, hon?”
Rachel smiled — but there was a trace of fear in his eyes.
I knew that smile of his was a cry he was trying to swallow.
4. A Mother’s Decision
That night, I couldn’t sleep.
Memories of the past came flooding back — the bruises on my body, the fear, the silence after the scream.
No. I wasn’t going to let Rachel go through that hell.
The next morning, I called them both.
“Evan,” I said, “I want to move to an orphanage. I have friends there, someone to take care of me.
Here… I don’t feel like I fit in anymore.”
“Is that true, Ma?” she asked, frowning.
“Yes, my child. It will be better for all of us.”
Rachel was silent, tears welling up in her eyes.
I hugged her tightly, whispering:
“Don’t be afraid, my child. I understand everything.”
5. A New Morning
In the orphanage, I found peace again.
No shouting, no fear, no bruises.
There were friends my age, laughing, talking.
And one day — I met Sam, my childhood friend who I had long thought had passed away.
“I never thought I would see you again, Emily,” he said, smiling.
“Maybe I still owe you,” I joked, and we laughed together.
I hadn’t laughed like that in a long time.
6. News From the City
One afternoon, Rachel arrived, carrying a bouquet of roses.
“Mom… it’s over. I’ve broken up with Evan. I have a small flower shop now. Quiet, but happy.”
I hugged him. “Good job, son. Happiness is not given — it’s earned and chosen.”
As he walked out, I glanced out the window.
The sun was setting, and the sky was golden.
Finally, at the age of 73, I had found true freedom.
No more crying. No more fear.
Only peace… and the courage of a heart that has learned to love again.
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