I woke up that morning like any other, but the house was eerily quiet. I went to Daniel’s room, hoping he’d returned after our argument. Instead, I found a note: “Mom, I’m leaving. Don’t try to find me. I’m not coming back.”
Tears blurred my vision as I read it. How could he leave me like this, after everything? Robert had died six months ago, and now Daniel was gone too.
I was overwhelmed with debt, illness, and loneliness. Dr. Chen’s warning echoed in my mind—my treatments would be costly. I had been working two jobs since Robert’s passing, but now, without Daniel and struggling with my health, I felt trapped.
Days passed with no sign of Daniel. The police couldn’t help since he was an adult. Alone, I juggled work, treatment, and bills, struggling to stay afloat.
As months turned to years, I slowly dug myself out of debt, but the emptiness remained. Every holiday, I hoped Daniel would return, but he never did. I tried dating but couldn’t open up to anyone.
Then, thirteen years later, Daniel came back, looking older and tired. He apologized for leaving, explaining he’d gotten caught up in drugs and gambling. I wanted to believe him, but my hurt kept me cautious.
That night, though, I caught him trying to steal from my savings. I told him to leave, and this time, he did.
As the door slammed behind him, I realized I had survived without him. It was time to focus on myself. I called Dr. Chen and left a message, ready to take the next step toward healing.