Breaking Free and Finding Love
I always knew I had a mother. But at times, it felt like she was my entire world. Even at 37, she checked in daily, asking the same questions.
I had my apartment, a steady job at a museum, a deep love for art history, a bank account, and two degrees. Yet, every time I saw Mom calling on my phone, I instinctively straightened up.
She dictated everything—from my bedtime to the color of my nails.
Then, I met Theo.
For the first time, I kept a secret from her. It lasted exactly three days.
The Night Everything Changed
The evening Theo came over, I was excited. I had baked a pie from an online recipe instead of Mom’s treasured cookbook. It was slightly burnt, the chicken a little dry—but they were my mistakes. My choices.
A week earlier, she had insisted, “I want to meet him. In person. At my house. At the table. With my questions.”
“Mom, let me handle this. I’ll decide when it’s time.”
She backed off. For once. I should’ve known better.
see next page 💕👇
