Life was never the same after I lost my mom. The accident that took her away when I was just 14 years old shattered my world. Therapy helped, but the void she left was immense. It felt like I was navigating life with a piece of my heart missing. My dad did his best, but his way of coping was different. He found solace in someone new, Carrie, who soon became a constant presence in our home.
Carrie wasn’t overtly unkind, but she wasn’t warm either. Her indifference stung in a different way. I tried to give her a chance, but it was clear she saw me as more of an obligation than a person. Our relationship was strained, to say the least. I never expected her to replace my mom, but I hoped for some semblance of kindness. Instead, she remained distant, like a cold shadow looming over our lives.