“I was under a lot of pressure.”
“I know.”
“The businesses were failing.”
“I know.”
“I thought if I got the house, I could sell part of the land and pay everyone back.”
“You wanted the house because you had already spent everything else.”
He looked down.
“I thought you would help me.”
“I did help you.”
“You are my mother.”
“That does not make my life your property.”
His jaw worked.
“I was angry.”
“You were cruel.”
“I did not mean to hit you.”
“You meant to frighten me.”
His eyes lifted.
For a moment, he had nothing to say.
That was the first honest silence he had ever given me.
Then he leaned forward.
“Tell them you do not want to press charges.”
“No.”
“Mother.”
“No.”
“I could go to prison.”
“You may.”
His face crumpled with outrage.
“After everything I have been through?”
I looked at him steadily.
“You are still talking about what has happened to you.”
