When I was eight, my mother became very ill and was hospitalized. One day, my father told me she had died. Heartbroken, I moved with him to a new town for a “fresh start.” Shortly after, a woman named Erika entered our lives. My father quickly married her, but she despised me, constantly criticizing and giving me endless chores.
Years of mistreatment followed, and one day, Erika tried to remove my mother’s photo from my room. Furious, I left home with the picture and ended up back in our old town. There, I encountered a homeless woman who looked just like my mother. To my shock, it was her—alive. She explained how my father had lied, stolen all their savings, and cut her out of my life.
Reunited, we rented a small place together using my savings. Mom rebuilt her career, and I worked while attending night school. I changed my last name to hers, severing ties with the man who tore us apart. We finally had the fresh start we deserved—together.
