A New Beginning After Divorce

My sister came to visit, and my grandson clung to her youthful hand, pleading, "Aunt Julieta, when are you and Grandpa going to take me to the amusement park again?"

My daughter-in-law quickly tried to silence him, while my son insisted I must have misheard. My husband looked apologetic, but it was directed toward my sister, who was dabbing her eyes with a tissue.

Reflecting on my life, I have served my in-laws, raised children, and looked after my grandchildren. Fifty-five years of dedicated efforts seem to have been in vain.

==============================

"Mom, are you sure you heard that right?" my son laughed nervously.

At that moment, I was still holding the coffee I'd made for Julieta, and the porcelain mug slipped from my hands, shattering on the floor. I looked up at Derek, whose eyes, blurred behind his reading glasses, were focused elsewhere.

Julieta covered her face, her voice carrying an almost childlike tone that someone our age shouldn’t have. "Sis, don’t take the kids too seriously. Really, it's my fault. I don’t have children of my own, so I spoil Mathew."

"Hey, let’s not just stand around. Let’s move to the couch," my daughter-in-law suggested, trying to ease the tension, while also cautioning, "Mom, watch out for the broken pieces. Don't hurt yourself."

The family moved to the couch, cheerfully watching cartoons with Mathew. I stayed where I was, staring down at my hands.

My knuckles were swollen, a result of washing the entire family's laundry in icy water during harsh winters. My skin was cracked, each dishwashing session making it burn with pain from the detergent. Various spots dotted my hands, remnants of oil splatters from countless meals cooked. The bulging veins resembled crawling insects, now red and swollen from the hot coffee, making them appear even more grotesque.

Despite their words of caution, no one offered to help clean up the shattered porcelain. If I didn’t do it, who would? Mathew loved playing on the floor, and a cut could be serious.

I sighed and, bracing my aching knees, slowly knelt down to clean up the mess.