I walked in to Central Dupage Hospital on December 27, 2003 at roughly 4pm. Two of my three brothers were already at my mother’s bedside. I waited in the hall till they left the room, since only a few people could visit at a time. As I stood in the hallway, my twin brother asked me to say goodbye, and to let my mom know that everything would be okay, and she could pass without having to worry about our well being. I stayed with my mom all night. She could hardly breathe, she could not move her body at all and she could not talk. I sat holding her hand as I told her that I would be taken care of, and there was no need to worry. She died the next afternoon.
Since my father was absent the whole time my mother was sick. My oldest brother dropped out of college and worked 40+ hours a week to help take care of my twin and I since we were still minors. My twin and I went to school full time and worked full time to make sure we had enough money to eat. I was stayed with my friend’s family occasionally. The only support my father gave during those long was a child support check, which would only pay the bills. He never made sure we had food. He was only concerned with his girlfriend in the next state. My father was never like this until I entered high school. He was always the supporting parent that everyone loved I guess that is why I trusted him.
When my mother died, he came into a lot of money. He offered to pay for school and books, since my brothers and I couldn’t really afford college. He offered to let us live with him since he sold my mothers house and we had no place for my brothers and I to be together. We became very close when my mother became ill. Instead of helping his children, his new wife would not allow him to pay for our schooling. She refused to let him help us in anyway, and he complied. He always made promises and came up with excuse after excuse as to why he now couldn’t make due on his promise, and put us in a bad situation. Due to his constant lies, and my trust in his word, I ended up in a large amount of debt, and so did my brothers. I never asked him why he chose her over us.
Since, I have come to the realization that I should have told my mom that I needed her to live. I should have told her that I would struggle without her and would need her support in my life. I chose to lie to her, like my father. With all the lies that have arisen the last few years, I believe that I would rather hear a hard truth over an easy lie.