My Lovestruck Mother

it was in the cafete

feteria was bustling with energy, and several students wave

heerful, sunny schoolmate was freeload

eating me to?" I asked,

r-of-factly. "When I was fifteen or sixtee

posed to be

wait to shack up with a woman pushing fifty? Makin

t it was enough to catch the attenti

favor," he said calmly. "Could you find time to visit Paulina? She really cares about you. We both do. I know

ve poured my water bottle over his head to snap him ba

s none of his business, let alone

uld possibly come out

nt, Aiden, but you won't convince me. And honestly, I don't get it. What kind of person gets a

at would happen. She'd drag him to the courthouse in no time, proudly annou

aulina's emotions," Ai

ith her? Aiden, are you insane,

I came here t

. "Go back and tell my mom this-if she doesn't b

eaving me his entire estate. Without it

s voice tinged with disbelief. "Paulina cares about you

s inheritance to keep a boy toy like you around?

As I stood to leave, I threw one last barb his way, "The only reaso

aughter. People sho

ce to sit down and have a

mending it. She wouldn't listen-not when her head was so fill

her, I took the straightforward

thly expenses depended entirely on the allowance I gave her. With

l-reminders to bundle up in the cold or tips

latest message for far too long befor

my reflection in the bus window

ken me to an amusement park. Sitting on her lap, I'd reached out to point at her

s sitting on the rooft

air, a thin wool blanket draped over her knees. Her eyes were half-closed, a

my noticing, she

beside her. He held a bright red apple in his han

immering layer of warmth over them. Watching their silhouettes, I suddenly f

e, tossing out some sarcastic jab like, "Enjoying y

behind the rooftop door, staring at the way her gra

o. I turned to leave, my footsteps light on the stairs, but before I could take mo