After Michelle’s mom abandons her with her stepdad, the teenage girl vows to prove she isn’t a burden by becoming successful. After overcoming many obstacles, Michelle comes face-to-face with the woman who left her behind.
Michelle didn’t realize something was wrong until her stepdad, Eugene, collapsed onto the sofa and started crying. They’d just arrived home and discovered a note from Mom on the coffee table. That same note now lay on the seat beside Eugene.
Michelle navigated her wheelchair through the gap between the sofa and the armchair. She leaned over and snatched up the note.
“Michelle, don’t.” Eugene reached to grab the note.
Michelle reversed out of his reach. She needed to know what the heck was going on. She held the page in one hand. Her fingers shook as she scanned her mother’s words:
“I can’t do it anymore. You know I never wanted children, but I tried my best to care for Michelle anyway. That burden has taken the best years of my life from me. But now that she’s sixteen, I’ve decided it’s time I pursue my dream of becoming an actress before it’s too late…”
Michelle didn’t read the rest. She crumpled the page in her fist as tears poured down her cheeks. Burden…was that all she was? An accidental pregnancy that further encumbered her mother by needing extra care? Her gaze snapped across to Eugene.
“And what about you?” Michelle asked. “Am I a burden to you too? It’s not like I’m your real daughter so nobody would blame you if you dumped me somewhere like a dog.”
“Never!” Eugene rushed over, dropped to one knee, and wrapped his arms around Michelle.
“I don’t understand what has possessed your mother but I love you like my own, Shelly, and I’ll never abandon you.”
Michelle returned Eugene’s hug, but Mom’s words were seared into her thoughts. It wasn’t like she’d asked to be like this. It wasn’t like she enjoyed depending on others for help with her catheter, physiotherapy, or anything else.