When our mother fell sick, I was the one who took care of her. When she passed, I prepared every detail of the funeral.
But at the memorial, my sister stood up and took all the credit.
What occured next wasn’t loud or dramatic, but she never experienced it coming.
I married my high school sweetheart, Mark, right after college. We have two beautiful children, Emma, 15, and Jack, 12.
We weren’t rich, but we were happy.
Then, last spring, Mom called with the news that transformed my world upside down.
“The doctor found something,” she said in a trembling voice.
“It’s canc3r, Emily.”
I’d stop by three times a week, cook a few meals she could reheat, and pick up her groceries. Mark was happy about it, taking over more with the kids so I could be there for Mom.
“You’re an angel,” Mom would say.
“I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
As weeks turned into months, the canc3r developed.
Soon, Mom needed help getting dressed, bathing, and even walking to the bathroom.
And Doreen, my older sister? Nowhere to be found.
“I called Doreen again,” I told Mom.
“She said she’s flooded at work.
Some big project.”
“That’s alright. She’s always been so career-oriented. I’m proud of her for that.” Mom said.
But I saw the hurt in her eyes.
When I called to update her on Mom’s condition, Doreen always had reasons ready.
“You know how it is, Em,” she’d say with a sigh.
“Work is crazy.
And honestly, I don’t have the mental bandwidth right now. Hospitals depress me. You’re so much better at this stuff.”
To be honest, this wasn’t good behavior.
I’d look at Mom, waiting for her to notice, to say something.
But she never did.
Instead, she’d just wave and tell me, “That’s just how she is.
You know your sister.”
“Has Doreen called?” she’d ask. “Maybe she could visit this weekend?”
I’d make up gentle respond, sparing Mom the truth that her eldest daughter couldn’t look after mom.
“She sends her love,” I’d lie. “She’s trying to prepare things up so she can take some time off.”
On a cold Tuesday morning in January, Mom passed away while I held her hand.
When I finally called Doreen, she cried on the phone.
Real tears, it seemed.
Naturally, I predicted her to prepare for the funeral arrangements. But I guess I should have known better.
The story doesn’t end here –
it continues on the next page.
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