35


    35


    Liam’s POV


    6 50%


    The sun hadn’t fully risen yet, but the doorbell rang loudly and repeatedly. I had just finished washing my face


    -hair still a mess, wearing a wrinkled shirt-when I dragged myself toward the door.


    Before I could open it, Noah’s excited voice rang out as he bolted from the living room.


    “Grandma!”


    That cheerful shout filled the house-a house that had felt lifeless for the past two days.


    I opened the door. There stood Mrs. Wilson, my mother, looking neat andposed, holding tworge bags.


    The scent of freshly fried chicken drifted warmly into the air. Noah immediately threw his arms around her,


    then grabbed a piece of chicken from the bag before following his grandmother inside.


    I stepped aside, still trying to process her unexpected arrival. My mother didn’t look at me directly. She walked


    in with firm steps, her head slightly raised, as if concealing her disapproval.


    “Morning, Ma,” I greeted carefully.


    “Morning,” she replied tly.


    “Fried chicken! Grandma, it’s my favorite!” Noah cheered, plopping onto the living room floor and devouring it enthusiastically. Crumbs scattered over the already-stained carpet, but I couldn’t bring myself to scold him. I couldn’t bring myself to me anyone but myself.


    My mother’s eyes swept across the room.


    She took in the sight of the dining table still cluttered with spoiled food. Tiny flies buzzed above it. tes left


    untouched. A sticky floor. The sour stench of rot wafted in from the kitchen.


    Noah’s toys were scattered everywhere. He had stepped on some of them the night before while running around


    in boredom.


    My mother’s expression changed-cold and sharp. I already knew what her first question would be.


    “Where’s your housekeeper?” she asked, setting the food bags down on the only clear corner of the table.


    I leaned against the wall, arms crossed, trying to soundposed even though I knew my answer would sound


    11:12 AM Tue 2 Sep


    35


    pathetic.


    “Someone in her family’s sick. She might not be back anytime soon.”


    50%O


    My mother let out a long breath, her face tight with restrained anger. “And you’re just going to let the house stay like this? Noah hasn’t even had a bath! Liam, this is”


    “I know!” I cut her off sharply, raising my voice. “I know the house is a mess. I know Noah hasn’t bathed. But I can see too, Mom. I know who was supposed to be here-who left without saying a word!”


    I didn’t know why I snapped. Maybe because I was tired. Maybe because I’d spent thest two days going crazy trying to contact Sienna. Or maybe… because I felt abandoned-betrayed by someone who should never have left.


    “She’s unreachable, Mom. It’s been two days!” I added, my voice hoarse. “How could Sienna be so cruel, leaving the house like this? Leaving Noah like this?”


    My mother didn’t answer right away. Her gaze stayed fixed on me, sharp as ever-but now softened by something else. Doubt, maybe. Or pity.


    “Noah is my grandson, Liam. I’ll always be here for him. But this isn’t just about Sienna leaving,” she said quietly. “This is about how you act when things don’t go ording to n.”


    I frowned. “What do you mean?”


    She stepped into the kitchen, cing her shopping bags gently on the counter, then turned back to me. “Sienna wasn’t a maid. She’s a human being, Liam. She had limits. You think she left because she was bored? Because she wanted to punish you? No, my son. Maybe she was just too tired of waiting.”


    Her words hit like a p.


    I stepped back, my shoulders brushing against the doorway. “I never asked her to wait. I didn’t-”


    “But you never asked her to leave either, did you?” she interrupted. “You kept her in limbo. No status. No rity. No recognition.”


    I shook my head slightly, barely registering Noah’s voice as he chatted with his stuffed toy in the living room.


    “I didn’t know what to do,” I murmured. “Sienna came when everything was already broken. Emily had just left. I wasn’t healed. I wasn’t ready.”


    “But you let her love you,” my mother whispered. “You just never truly loved her back.”


    11:13 AM Tue 2 Sep


    35


    50%


    I lowered my head. My chest tightened. Maybe she was right. Maybe I had been too afraid to be honest, too much of a coward to choose. Sienna was there, and I tookfort in that. But I never really let her in. I left her standing on the threshold of my life, waiting for me to decide whether she coulde in… or should <ol><li></li></ol>


    “Daddy, the chicken is so good!”


    I turned. Noah was chewing happily, his hands covered in crumbs. I managed a small smile.


    My mother stayed silent for a moment, eyes still on me. Then she exhaled softly. “And what about Emily?”


    I sighed. Of course. Always back to Emily. “She had an event. She hasn’te home sincest night.”


    My mother narrowed her eyes. “An event?” she repeated sarcastically. “While your son hasn’t bathed in two


    days and the house looks like a disaster zone?”


    I didn’t respond. Because anything I said would sound like an excuse. And we both knew-my mother and I—


    that neither Emily nor I had truly been present for Noahtely. Everything felt like scraps. Scattered moments


    no one bothered to gather.


    She sighed again. “Liam, you’re a father. Not a guest in this house.”


    I looked down at my clenched hands. “I know…”


    “No. You don’t,” she snapped. “If you did, you wouldn’t wait until the house reeks before realizing something’s


    wrong. Who do you think kept it all together this whole time?”


    I fell silent. The quiet hung heavy, like fog.


    “You’ve been toofortable for too long,” she continued. “Sienna wasn’t just a caretaker. She was the only


    one who truly cared about your son.”


    11:13 AM Tue 2 Sep