Only for the Week (The Forever Falling Series)

by Natasha Bishop

She slams her hand on the table, drawing the eyes of others around us. “Damnit, Janelle. You have never needed me.” “What are you talking about?” “Ever since you were a kid you never needed me for anything. It was either your dad or no one. You taught yourself how to tie your shoes. Your dad taught you how to ride a bike. You worked through boy issues on your own. Your dad taught you how to drive. You killed undergrad without so much as a complaint. I never heard a peep from you during medical school. You just never relied on me. When everything happened with you, Amerie, and Arnold, I just knew you would need me. I just knew something like this would eat you up inside and you’d finally need me to get you through something. I guess I convinced myself that was the truth even when you said it wasn’t.” My head spins at this revelation. Confusion gives way to rage as I take in my mother’s earnest smile. As if her confession will automatically fix decades of issues between us. She turns her palm up on the table, expecting me to join hands with her. Fuck that. “That…that doesn’t even make sense.” Her smile falters.