Emma sat on the edge of the couch, his small hands fidgeting in his lap. Across from him, Julia—his biological mother—sat awkwardly in the armchair. The silence between them felt thick, almost suffocating. Alex had stepped out of the room to give them privacy, but Emma wished he hadn't. He wasn't sure what to say or how to feel about the woman sitting across from him.
Julia cleared her throat, her eyes soft and searching.
"I know this must be really confusing for you, Emma. I… I don't even know where to start." Emma shrugged, looking down at his hands. His heart was racing, and a knot was forming in his chest, but he didn't want to show it. Not to her.
"I guess I'll just say what's on my mind," Julia continued, her voice tentative.
"I've missed so much of your life. And I know I can't make up for it, but I want to try. I want to be part of your life now." Emma's hands stopped fidgeting. His eyes narrowed slightly, though he didn't lift them from his lap.
"Why now?" he muttered, his voice small but edged with anger.
"Why do you care now?" Julia blinked, clearly taken aback by the question. She opened her mouth to respond, but Emma kept going, his voice growing louder as the emotions he'd been bottling up for years finally started to spill out.
"You weren't there," Emma said, his hands balling into fists.
"You weren't there when I had my first soccer game. Or when I lost my first tooth. Not for my heart attack caused by bullying in preschool, or the car crash 2 months ago, You weren't there when I had that big presentation at school or when I was scared about starting a new grade." His voice cracked, and he blinked hard, trying to stop the tears that were threatening to fall.
"You weren't even there when I was in the hospital. I almost died, and you weren't there!" Julia's face crumpled, tears brimming in her eyes as she leaned forward, desperate to close the gap between them.
"Emma, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean for it to be like this. I wasn't in a good place back then, and I thought it was best to stay away. But I never stopped thinking about you-"
"That's not enough!" Emma shouted, his small frame trembling with anger.
"You don't get to just show up now and act like you care! Dad was there for everything. He's the one who took care of me. He's the one who loves me!" Julia reached out, but Emma flinched back, standing up from the couch and taking a few steps away. His heart was pounding in his chest, and all the confusion and hurt he'd been feeling finally boiled over. His mind retreated back to his heart condition. Emma tries to take deep breaths and stop another attack.
"You don't get to just walk back into my life like nothing happened," he said, his voice quivering.
"You weren't there when I needed you the most, and now you think you can just be my mom?" Julia's tears spilled over, but she didn't move from her seat. She looked down, her hands trembling in her lap as she struggled to find the right words.
"I know I failed you, Emma," she whispered, her voice thick with emotion.
"I know I don't deserve your forgiveness. But I'm here now because I want to make it right. I don't expect you to call me Mom or to love me right away. But I'm hoping you'll give me a chance to try." Emma's chest heaved as he stood there, trying to process everything. He didn't know what to say, didn't know how to feel. A part of him wanted to run into the other room, to Alex, the one who had always been there for him. But another part of him—a small, confused part—wondered if he should give Julia a chance, even though it hurt.
"I don't know if I can," Emma said quietly, his anger fading into exhaustion. His pulse increased. He glanced up at Julia, his eyes filled with pain.
"I don't know if I even want to." Julia nodded, wiping her tears with the back of her hand.
"I understand. And whatever you decide, I'll respect it. I just hope you'll let me show you that I've changed." Emma didn't respond right away. He just stood there, staring at the woman who was supposed to be his mother, but who felt like a stranger. His mind raced with memories—of all the times he had needed her and she hadn't been there. And now, after all this time, she wanted to come back.
Finally, Emma took a deep breath, his voice small but resolute.
"You can't just fix everything with words. If you really want to be part of my life, you'll have to prove it." Julia nodded, her eyes still wet but filled with determination.
"I will, Emma. I promise." Emma went silent, walking into the bedroom where Alex waited, Alex walking into the kitchen. Julia watches as Alex helps Emma take his heart medications. Alex looking at Julia.
"Just so Emma doesn't have another heart arrhythmia… I suggest you leave for a bit…" Julia nods silently and leaves, Emma tightly hugs Alex's legs as the door slams.