My son, Liam Renshaw, hated me. To him, I, Isla Ellington, was the one who took his father away. I begged him to stay and celebrate my 60th birthday with me. But he turned his back on me and left without hesitation because he was in a hurry to be with my husband’s mistress, Daisy Whitmore. What he didn’t know was that this would be my last birthday. I had cancer. The doctor said I didn’t have much time left. Liam answered a call and cast me a fleeting, indifferent glance. “I have something urgent to take care of. I need to go out for a bit.” His phone screen was still lit, and the caller’s name was clearly visible. My heart sank with a bitter smile as I watched him turn to leave. Panic surged through me, and I grabbed onto his sleeve. “Liam, today is my birthday. Just today, can you stay and celebrate with me? I’ve never asked you for anything. Just this once.” I silently prayed that he would change his mind. “Mom, stop acting like a child.” He brushed me off and was about to leave, but I refused to let go. His phone rang again, urgent, insistent. I saw the impatience flash across his face before he wrenched his arm away from me, his force stronger than he intended. I lost my balance. Stumbling backward, I crashed into the dining table, my body landing face-first into my birthday cake. The cake was topped with a bright red peach, a traditional symbol of longevity. But all I saw was a blur of red. A gasp rippled through the guests. “She’s bleeding!” Dazed, I looked down at the cake. A small decorative support, meant to hold up the peach, had pierced my skin. The blood on my face mixed with the dark red frosting, making the whole scene both ridiculous and pathetic. I heard muffled laughter. Some of the guests were struggling to hold back their amusement. “Mom, I’m sorry. I’ll have Zane take care of you. But Daisy needs me more right now.” And just like that, Liam walked away without looking back.
After tending to the wound on my forehead, the last of the guests finally left. Then my phone buzzed a text from an unknown number. I didn’t need to check. I already knew who it was from. [So what if it’s your 60th birthday? Your husband couldn’t win against me. Your son couldn’t either. One phone call from me, and Liam abandons you without a second thought. What do you have to fight me with?] I let out a bitter laugh. I should be used to this by now. A sharp pang of hunger reminded me that I hadn’t eaten all day. I picked up my forks and stared at the lavish feast before me. But my appetite was gone. Tears welled in my eyes because every dish on this table was something I hated. Yet, they were all carefully chosen favorites of another woman. A woman my son and my husband’s mother, Nova Renshaw, regarded as family. The same woman who had been my husband’s mistress. “Why aren’t you back yet? Daisy has acute gastroenteritis and is in the hospital. She specifically asked for your chicken soup. Do you think you’re some kind of big deal just because it’s your birthday? You’re not dead yet!” The voice belonged to Nova. She was in her eighties, yet still as sharp and overbearing as ever. I let out a quiet scoff. So that was Daisy’s excuse to drag Liam back to her side. Did they even stop to consider how absurd it was? How could someone with acute gastroenteritis still crave chicken soup in the middle of the night? “I’m not going. Find someone else to take care of her. And don’t call me again.” Nova was perfectly fine. I was the one who was dying of stomach cancer, with one month left at most. This world had its own sense of justice. It punished those who didn’t take care of themselves. “You ungrateful wretch! Have you forgotten who held this family together when we were struggling the most? Have you forgotten that it was you who killed my son? It should’ve been you who died back then!” Nova’s voice was sharp and relentless, hurling accusations at me over the phone. These words had weighed on me for decades, pressing down so hard that I could barely breathe. But none of it mattered anymore. I was dying. And I still didn’t understand. My husband was the one who cheated. He was the one who got exposed and humiliated by his enemies. He was the one who chose to end his life rather than face the consequences. Yet, somehow, the world blamed me. Nova blamed me for his son’s death. Liam resented me for taking his father away. Even Daisy, the mistress, found joy in crushing me under her heel. And yet, to both Nova and Liam, Daisy was the one they called family. “She’s gotten worse because of you! If you don’t bring that soup to the hospital before sunrise, pack your things and leave. Liam is grown now. This family doesn’t need you anymore.”
I calmly hung up the phone. Before long, it rang again. Feeling exhausted, I simply turned it off. My stomach started aching again. Maybe it was because I hadn’t eaten. I found a can of instant food in the corner of the room and took a desperate bite. But before I could swallow, nausea overtook me. I rushed to the bathroom and threw up. The toilet was streaked with blood. I let out a bitter laugh and shook my head. At first, I thought it was just a stomach problem. Ever since the father of my child passed away, I have been working on construction sites, shoveling dirt, and moving from one site to another. I hadn’t had a proper meal in years. Sometimes, to save money, I simply didn’t eat. When hunger became unbearable, I’d stand by a faucet and fill my stomach with water. If I had known better, I would have treated myself a little kinder. Maybe at least I bought myself a sandwich. I still wanted to live. But the pain in my stomach kept me up all night. I endured until morning, then took my medical records and headed to the hospital for a follow-up. And that was when I ran into the last person I wanted to see. Nova was in the hallway, pushing Daisy into a wheelchair. Not long after, Liam walked over, holding a medical report, his expression light and relaxed. The three of them chatted in hushed voices, occasionally laughing. They must have been celebrating Daisy’s recovery. I thought, “What a happy family.” If Nova hadn’t noticed me, pointed at me, and started yelling while striding over, it would have been a peaceful scene. “Now you’re scared? Coming here now? Too late. This family doesn’t need you anymore. Get lost!” Ignoring the surprised looks from passersby, I pushed past Nova. I just wanted to go home and rest. Nova’s eyes widened in disbelief. Realizing I was completely ignoring her, she flew into a rage. “Are you deaf? I’m talking to you! Since you’re here, it’s perfect timing. Daisy’s getting discharged today. Liam went to get the car. You, carry Daisy to the hospital entrance!” “Oh no, that’s too much trouble. I can do it myself. No need for her to do this,” Daisy said, struggling to get up with the help of the armrests. But before she could straighten herself, she lost her strength and collapsed back into the chair. Her forehead was slick with sweat from the effort. She clutched her stomach in pain but still gritted her teeth, forcing herself to endure. Nova immediately leaned down, fussing over her with concern. I couldn’t be bothered to play along with their act. Without a word, I walked past them. My stomach twisted with pain. Nova panicked. Seeing how I kept disregarding her, she rushed forward in small, quick steps and grabbed my arm forcefully. My arm ached. My stomach ached. My whole body ached. Frustration swelled in me. I just wanted to get away. By the time I snapped back to reality, Nova was already on the floor, wailing dramatically. Liam’s eyes burned with fury as he glared at me. Daisy watched with a smug expression as if enjoying the show. “The only reason I ever called you Mom was because you raised me,” Liam said coldly. “But if you think that gives you the right to walk all over everyone, then I’d rather not have a mother at all!” I thought those words would hurt. But honestly, I didn’t care anymore. “Alright,” I said. “What did you just say?” Liam stared at me in disbelief. I looked at him carefully, the son I had struggled to raise. He was much taller than me now. His sharp features resembled his father’s. He wore an expensive suit, a sign of his success in the business world. I reached out, wanting to touch his face. Liam flinched away instantly, his disgust plain as day. “Liam, I don’t want to be your mother anymore either,” I said quietly. “I’m tired. Let’s cut ties.” Liam was too stunned to respond. He just stood there, staring at me. Nova had even forgotten to fake her pain, frozen in shock. Daisy was momentarily taken aback but quickly recovered. She smirked and said, “Oh, don’t listen to Isla’s nonsense. She’s just mad about last night’s birthday party. Liam, go and talk some sense into her.” Liam came back to his senses and sneered, “God, you’re always so dramatic.” “You’ve lost your mind,” Nova snapped. “I’m still alive, and you think you can just do whatever you want? Well…” She stormed up and grabbed my collar. People around us started whispering, pointing at me like I was some kind of spectacle. I felt dizzy. My vision blurred. “If I carry Daisy out, will you all finally leave me alone?” Nova’s eyes gleamed with calculation. “That’s right. As long as you do as I say, I’ll forgive you for what happened today!” “Oh no, how could that be.” Daisy covered her mouth and giggled smugly while Liam stood to the side, his expression cold and unreadable. I stepped forward and struggled to lift Daisy from the wheelchair onto my back. Afraid of falling, she finally stopped making a fuss. I staggered toward the hospital doors, my legs barely holding up under the weight. Liam seemed uneasy. He stepped forward, ready to take over, but Nova grabbed his arm. “Leave her be. Think about what she did and said today. If she doesn’t get a little punishment, she’ll be impossible to deal with.” Liam’s face darkened. After a moment of silence, he took a step back. His car was parked not far away, yet it felt like miles to me. I forced one foot in front of the other, dragging myself toward it. Sweat dripped onto the floor, and the pain in my stomach grew sharper. I bit down hard on my lip, swallowing back any sound of pain. I thought, “So heavy. So painful. Just like the weight I’ve carried on my shoulders all these years.” But at least it was almost over. After hearing today that treatment was hopeless, all I felt was relief. I finally got Daisy into the car before collapsing onto the ground, completely drained. Clenching my fist, I pressed it hard against my stomach, trying to dull the pain. “Ignore her. She’s just putting on an act.” The car lingered beside me for a moment before driving away. “Are you okay? We can help you to the infirmary,” a passerby offered. I refused their kindness, propping myself against the wall as I slowly walked away. I didn’t go home. Instead, I checked into a small motel nearby, where my luggage was already neatly packed in the corner. After sending out a pre-written text, I switched my phone to silent and fell asleep the moment my head hit the pillow.
Perhaps it was because I was too exhausted. Or maybe I was dying. I dreamed of many things from the past. When Jaxon was still alive, we had a brief period of happiness. He was a teacher at the school, and I was just a factory worker. But he said he loved my smile, and despite his parents’ objections, he married me. There were some rough patches along the way, but I always believed we were a happy family. Then came that day. I was at work when my supervisor suddenly approved my leave. The principal of Jaxon’s school came to pick me up in person. At the police station, I saw him covered by a white sheet. I hadn’t even had time to process his death when the officer hit me with an even more shocking truth. Jaxon had taken his own life to escape punishment. Someone exposed his affair with a female student, and he was about to be fired. Ashamed, he chose to end it all by jumping into the sea. His suicide note was filled with apologies to me. But in the end, all he left behind was a mountain of debt. Because he took his own life and had already been dismissed, the school gave us nothing. Nova was convinced I had known all along. She was sure I had pushed him to the edge. Those days were a blur. My mind was a chaotic mess. But reality didn’t wait for me to grieve. The electricity and water at home were cut off. The school dormitory gave us one month to move out. Jaxon was gone, but life had to go on. I quit my job at the factory and picked up a hoe to join the ranks of migrant laborers. I fought for work, once even arguing with a man who had a mental disability. In the heat of the moment, he swung his hoe and struck me on the head. Even with my head wrapped in gauze, I still had to work. The wound never healed properly, leaving behind an ugly, raised scar. But even in hardship, there were moments of warmth. When I came home, Liam would bring me a basin of warm water to soak my feet. He would gently touch the cracks on my hands, blowing on them as if to ease the pain. “Mom, when I grow up, you won’t have to work so hard anymore.” I smiled and nodded. “Okay.” Liam helped with whatever chores he could manage. Nova, despite her complaints, understood the weight I carried. One day, I returned home to find Liam and Nova holding a tiny birthday cake, no bigger than a palm. He was smiling and saying sweet words. The frosting had already started melting. But that night, we shared it, laughing and celebrating together. Then Daisy appeared, and everything started to change.
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