My Mother Made Me Homeless as a Teen—Now She Wants My Help

She asked for my help like nothing had ever happened.

She looked older. Smaller. Tired. She said her boyfriend was gone. She said she was sick and had nowhere to stay.

Then she asked if she could move in. My first instinct was to tell her no. I reminded her of the night she kicked me out. I told her I could not open my home to someone who had made me homeless as a child.

She did not argue. She handed me an envelope and turned away.

The envelope changed everything.

Inside was a hospital report. My mom had stage four pancreatic cancer. Prognosis: six weeks, possibly less.

I ran outside. She was still there, holding onto the railing to steady herself. She took my hand and said quietly, “I’ve already lost everything. Please don’t let me lose you twice.”

Now I have to decide what kind of person I want to be.