ME

A DIFFICULT REALITY

Maya walked through the front door of her home, the familiar scent of stale air and yesterday's cooking greeting her. She had grown accustomed to the smell, but it still made her stomach turn.

As she made her way to the living room, she saw her mom, slumped on the couch, surrounded by empty bottles and scattered cigarette butts. Maya's heart sank, a familiar feeling of worry and frustration washing over her.

"Mom?" Maya said softly, trying not to startle her.

Her mom stirred, slowly opening her eyes. For a moment, Maya saw a glimmer of recognition, a hint of the woman her mom used to be. But it was quickly replaced by a vacant, glazed-over expression.

"Hey, sweetie," her mom mumbled, her voice slurred.

Maya felt a pang of sadness, seeing her mom like this. She had grown up taking care of her mom, dealing with the ups and downs of her addiction. It was a heavy burden to carry, but Maya loved her mom and wanted to help her.

As she looked around the cluttered, chaotic room, Maya felt a sense of determination. She would do whatever it took to help her mom get better, to create a more stable and loving home. But for now, she just sat down beside her mom, taking her hand in hers.

"I'm here for you, Mom," Maya said softly. "I'll always be here for you."

Maya's mom looked at her, her eyes unfocused. For a moment, Maya thought she saw a glimmer of recognition, a hint of love and connection. But it was fleeting, and her mom's expression quickly returned to its usual blankness.

Maya squeezed her mom's hand gently. "It's okay, Mom. I'm here. I'll take care of you."

Her mom didn't respond, but Maya could see the faintest hint of tension in her body, a slight relaxation of her muscles. It was a small moment, but Maya clung to it, hoping it was a sign that her mom was still in there somewhere.

As they sat in silence, Maya's mind began to wander. She thought about her own life, her own dreams and aspirations. She thought about May, her best friend, and the struggles she was facing. Maya felt a sense of empathy, knowing that everyone had their own battles to fight.

But as she looked at her mom, Maya's thoughts turned to the present moment. She knew she had to be there for her mom, to support her through the tough times. It wasn't always easy, but Maya was determined to be a source of love and strength for her mom.

As the silence stretched out, Maya's mom began to stir. She pulled her hand away, rubbing her eyes. "Maya, I'm sorry," she mumbled. "I don't know what's wrong with me."

Maya's heart went out to her mom. She knew that addiction was a disease, that her mom wasn't in control of her actions. She also knew that her mom loved her, deep down, even if she couldn't always show it.

"There's nothing wrong with you, Mom," Maya said softly. "You're just struggling. And I'm here to help you through it."

Maya's mom looked at her, her eyes searching for something. Maya didn't know what it was, but she hoped it was a glimmer of hope, a spark of determination to get better.

"I want to get better, Maya," her mom said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I want to be a good mom, to take care of you and make you proud."

Maya's heart swelled with emotion. She had heard her mom say these words before, but this time, something was different. This time, she saw a glimmer of sincerity, a hint of resolve.

"I know you do, Mom," Maya said, her voice filled with conviction. "And I'm here to help you. We'll get through this together."

Maya's mom nodded, a small smile on her face. It was a fragile, tentative smile, but Maya saw it as a sign of progress.

As they sat there, Maya felt a sense of hope that she hadn't felt in a long time. Maybe, just maybe, her mom was turning a corner. Maybe she was finally ready to face her addiction and start the long journey to recovery.

Maya knew it wouldn't be easy, that there would be setbacks and struggles along the way. But for the first time in a long time, she felt a sense of optimism, a sense that things might finally be starting to look up.

Due to her mom's condition, she was made to skip school, Karen needed attention and someone to be by. It was days now and she hadn't logged into the social media she was so addicted to; she needed to meet up with her school work and since it was barely two weeks to bid highschool farewell she was taking a lot of exams and applying for colleges.

Unlike May who wanted to pursue a Bachelor's degree in Nursing, Maya wanted to be an influencer, she wanted to explore the social world of arts and music.

And she knew her mom needed therapy soon, watching these pills take over Karen and knowing she could loose her to them was burdening. But she needed the capital for intensive care and therapy.

"when would life ever stop throwing lemons?"