Selena's mother sat in the leather office chair, her rough, scarred hands resting on the armrests. The calluses, both old and new, covered her hands in a patchwork of toil. Seeing those hands, Selena felt a strange mix of resentment and compassion flare up within her. Without a word, she opened a drawer and took out a small jar of hand cream, the old-fashioned type, and held it out. "Here, take it."
Selena's mother accepted the cream, taking it as a sign that money was on the table. Her eyes lit up with greed. "Ah, Lena, does that mean you'll help your brother? I always knew you'd do well. A hundred thousand dollars is nothing to you, right? Look at this office—my daughter's done all right for herself!"
Selena stood there, her hair falling around her face as she inclined her head, voice quiet but firm. "I never agreed to give him a hundred thousand dollars. He's in his twenties, and it's time he faces the consequences of his actions."
The words had barely left her mouth when her mother's face darkened. She hurled the glass jar of hand cream to the ground, where it shattered, and screamed, "That's your own flesh and blood! The only son of the family! How can you be so cold-hearted? You're trying to send him to his death! You want to end our family line?!"
Selena's expression remained impassive; she'd heard this cruelty a thousand times before. Even so, as she crouched down to clean up the broken glass, her hand trembled. She told herself she could bear it. She had to. Yet her fingers shook as she collected the shards, trying to ignore her mother's cutting words.
Taking a moment to breathe, her mother continued. "If you don't have the money, sell your condo. You bought it to help your brother settle down, after all."
Standing, Selena tossed the shards into the trash and wiped her hands, her voice now filled with a cold, simmering anger. "You mean my condo? The one I bought for myself? I never once thought of giving it to him. He needs to stand on his own."
Her mother's voice grew shrill. "You don't need that place—you'll marry someday. But he needs a wife! How can you be so ungrateful? I should've let your father drown you when you were born! You're just a wretched burden. Now it's simple—either hand over the money or give up your condo. Otherwise, I'm not leaving until everyone here sees just what kind of person you are!"
Watching her mother's hysterics, Selena felt her heart thudding painfully in her chest. Hot tears streaked down her face before she even knew she was crying. "Why? Why can't you love me, even just a little bit?! We're both your children—why could he go to school, but I had to work in the fields? Why did he get everything while I got nothing? I've worked my whole life, and you still want to take it all! I might as well give you my life, right here, right now. Take it, and don't ever ask me for anything again!"
She stepped closer with every word, fingers tangled in her hair, which fell messily around her face. Her voice broke as she wept, each step more unhinged than the last until, at that moment, she seemed even more desperate than her mother.
Her mother flinched, fear flashing across her face, and grabbed a framed photo off the desk, hurling it at Selena. "Are you crazy?!"
Selena stood her ground, chin lifted defiantly, but she didn't brace herself for the blow.
Just before the frame hit her, a hand shot out, catching her wrist and pulling her backward. In one swift motion, Tara stepped in front of her, shielding her from the impact. After the shattering glass, Tara turned and asked softly, "Are you okay?"
Tara kept her back to her, her voice low and muffled, her tone full of worry and… something that sounded heartbreakingly close to sadness.
Selena tugged Tara's shoulder. "Turn around—are you hurt?"
Tara stayed facing away, one hand pressed against her forehead. "Just a scare, that's all. If you're okay, I'll take this… woman downstairs." She gently pulled free from Selena's grip, then turned to guide Selena's mother toward the door. This time, her mother offered no resistance, surprisingly compliant as Tara led her out.
But Selena wasn't convinced. She rushed forward, grabbing Tara's arm and turning her back around. Her heart clenched when she saw blood trickling down Tara's cheek, her face pale and one eye nearly closed. Tara tried to turn her face away, but Selena held it steady, both hands cradling her cheeks.
"Move your hand. Let me see," she said, her voice tight with urgency. Tara removed her hand, and Selena winced at the sight of the cut on her forehead. It was shallow, but seeing Tara hurt because of her was unbearable.
Selena retrieved a first-aid kit, saying, "I'll clean this up first, then we'll get you to the hospital."
Tara sat, her head lowered, her eyes flitting nervously around the room. For a moment, she seemed almost childlike, and Selena's concern grew. She waved a hand in front of Tara's face. "Are you dizzy? Do you feel like your vision is blurry?"
Tara grabbed her hand, managing a faint, sheepish smile. "No, no… I'm just a little… squeamish around blood."
Selena insisted on taking her to the hospital anyway, despite Tara's reassurances that she was fine. By the time they reached the parking garage, the bleeding had stopped, but Tara's mind was elsewhere. She couldn't shake the memory of Selena's desperate cries echoing in her ears.
She clenched her hands in her lap, fighting back the lingering panic. Tara knew that Selena was strong, but hearing her like that had shaken her to the core. She was terrified of what Selena might do if pushed too far.
Taking a shaky breath, Tara finally spoke up, her words spilling out in a rush. "Selena, please—promise me… don't ever give up. I love you."
Selena's eyes widened. Tara's voice was steady, her eyes reflecting fierce determination. "I'll give you all the love that was taken from you. You deserve so much more than the pain they left you with. Just… stay here with me. Please?"
Tara's eyes were so earnest, dark and intense, fixed unwaveringly on her. Though Selena didn't turn her head, she could feel the warmth of Tara's gaze, as if it might consume her whole. She held her breath, the question slipping out before she could stop herself: "Am I really… that important to you?"
Tara didn't hesitate. "Yes. So important—more than you know." Her voice was low and rough, catching slightly at the end.
For a long, unbroken moment, Selena just stared ahead, feeling something shift within her, as if the walls she'd built around her heart were finally beginning to crack. She fought to contain the flood of emotions welling up inside her, forcing herself to stay composed. "But… what do you mean by 'different'?"
The words came out softly, her throat dry, her heart racing.
And in the silent stillness of the car, the air around them grew thick, a tense anticipation filling the space between them.