• “I don’t appreciate grandmother’s decision. I told her not to interfere...” Kaoru was talking on the phone to his father. I closed my bedroom door to block out the noise, and sat on my bed; hugging my knees to my chest. If my mother was doing well for herself, then why did she have to come here. I was doing just fine the way I was…
    She even went so far as to slap me when I disregarded her as my mother. I guess that would be painful…but did I really mean to say that to her? She had her reason for abandoning me, it probably would have been the same if she had taken me along with her. I would have been a bother to her maybe? I don’t know what to make of the situation. I’m actually touched that she at least made a slight effort to come here, given how intimidating Kaoru’s family is. Especially his grandmother. I smiled to myself. I shouldn’t have said that to her, because deep down; I really want to talk to her more.
    “Yuki, can I come in?” Kaoru knocked on my door. Before I could answer, he was already coming in.
    “I’m sorry Yuki, I didn’t know my grandmother had planned that. Had I known, I would have came home earlier.” He sat down next to me, “Does your face still hurt?” I shook my head, no.
    “Yuki, Mrs. Yamashiro is…?”
    “My mother.”
    “I see. Well, whether she is your mother or not, she should not have slapped you like that.”
    “It’s fine, it was my fault.”
    “Your fault? I highly doubt it was something you did.”
    “It wasn’t something I did. It was something I said.” It went silent.
    “Kaoru?”
    “Hmm?”
    “I don’t hate her…” Kaoru chuckled and hugged me close.

    “Are you sure you don’t want me to go with you?” Kaoru asked. We were sitting in his car in front of my mother’s house.
    “I’m sure.” I smiled as he sighed.
    “Well, I’ll pick you up later then.”
    “Alright.” I smiled and got out of the car. I could tell he was looking at me with a concerned expression.
    As I watched Kaoru leave, I knew I could do this by myself. Kaoru was always worrying about me, and I just needed him to focus on himself once in a while. I sighed one last time, and walked to her front door. I hope she won’t be too surprised. Wait…what if she’s still angry from the other day? Even though I thought it through yesterday that I was definitely coming to visit her today…she might have changed her mind about getting along with me.
    Finally I reached her door…but my hand won’t reach the buzzer. I…I’m nervous. I’m scared. Maybe I should have taken another day to think this through. I’ll just call Kaoru to come back here and take me back home. As I thought, I couldn’t do it today. It just wasn’t possible. I turned around, facing the blank street.
    But then…won’t Kaoru be more worried? I can’t let that happen either!!!
    “Why is this so hard?” I asked myself.
    “Yuki?” I looked up and saw my mother standing in front of me. There was a small baby sleeping on her shoulder. Yui. I thought.
    “Honey, what’s wrong?” A man asked as he stepped by her side. He looked at me, then smiled.
    “You must be Yuki. It’s so nice to see you!” He greeted. I gave him a half-hearted smile as it went quiet.
    “Um, why don’t I take Yui inside and let you two talk.” The man grabbed Yui from my mother and went straight into the house.
    “I didn’t think you would ever see me…” My mother said first.
    “I’m sorry.” I apologized.
    “Sorry?” She looked confused.
    “I’m apologizing for what I had said the other day. It was just…”
    “It was your true feelings that came out on its own. You were always like that Yuki, you’ve always been honest no matter what the situation. I should be the one apologizing anyhow. Even though you said you wouldn’t forgive me, I would like another chance to be your mother. It may be hard, considering that you thought I had forgotten you. I never meant for it to be this way, I never stopped thinking about you. Even though you disregard me as your mother, I will never disregard you as my daughter!” This woman was already crying. And to my surprise, I was also crying. I’m not sure what changed, but I knew I just wanted to be here with her. I knew I could never forget the past, but I could at least move on little by little.
    “Yuki, I love you!” She shouted, even though I was standing right in front of her. I couldn’t help it, so I ran up to her and hugged her tightly.
    “Mom” I whispered. She sighed and hugged me back even tighter.
    After all that, I had stayed the whole day at her home. I talked endlessly with my mother and her new husband whose name I later found out was Hiro. I also played with Yui a couple of times as well.
    “Yuki, we were thinking; would you like to live with us?” My mother asked as we were at the dinner table. I stopped eating. I think I was in a bit of a shock.
    “I know it may be too soon, but I would love it if you’d live with us.”
    “Yeah, I’d love to have you around. I mean you’re my daughter too.” Hiro smiled as he took my mother’s hand. My home won’t be the only thing I would be leaving, I would have to change schools as well since my mother lives in another area.
    “May I have some time to think about it?” I asked politely.
    “Of course.” My mother smiled with delight. Even though I said may I think it through, I already knew what my answer was going to be.