Oh, this story really gets me. So, my mum only had one eye, and I hated her for itit made me so embarrassed. To put food on the table, she worked as a dinner lady at a school. One day, back when I was in primary school, she turned up to visit me. My heart just sank. How could she do that? I was mortified. I pretended not to see her, gave her this filthy look, and bolted. The next day, one of my mates said, «Oi, didnt know your mums only got one eye!» I wanted the ground to swallow me whole. I wished shed just disappear. So later, when I saw her, I snapped, «Why dont you just drop dead so you dont embarrass me anymore?»
She didnt say a word back. I wasnt even thinkingjust lashing out. Didnt care how she felt. I couldnt stand having her around. Worked my way up, moved to London for uni, got married, bought a house, had kids. Life was good. Then one day, out of nowhere, Mum showed up. Years had gone byshed never even met her grandkids. When she knocked, the little ones laughed at her. How could she come here and scare them like that? I yelled, «Piss off!» And she just whispered, «Sorry, love. Wrong house, I think,» before shuffling away.
Years later, I got an invite to a school reunion. Told the wife it was a work trip. After the event, I swung by my old place on a whim. The neighbours said Mum had passed. Didnt feel a thing. They handed me a letter shed left:
«My dearest son, Ive thought of you every day. Im so sorry for turning up in London and frightening your children. When I heard you were coming back for the reunion, I was over the moonbut I wasnt sure Id even make it out of bed to see you. Im sorry you were ashamed of me growing up. But, my love, when you were little, you had an accident and lost an eye. I couldnt bear the thought of you growing up like me. So I gave you mine. And now, all I feel is pride, knowing youre seeing the world through it.
With all my love,
Mum.»
Gets me every time.
