MOMMY ISSUES | Tamber

1-The Reluctant Caretaker.

Tara sat on her couch in the dimly lit apartment, her face reflecting exhaustion and weariness. Dark circles lingered beneath her eyes, evidence of sleepless nights and the weight of her responsibilities. The room seemed to match her mood, a somber atmosphere enveloping her as she sought solace from the outside world.

The front door burst open, sending a gust of cool evening air into the quiet house. Samantha, Tara's older sister, stumbled in, clearly intoxicated and giggling uncontrollably. With unsteady steps, she made her way over to Tara and plopped down beside her on the couch.

"Heyyyy sis!" Samantha slurred, her words slightly slurred. "God, I'm so fucked up."

Tara, engrossed in her books, didn't bother to look up. She had grown accustomed to her sister's behavior.

"You're always fucked up, Sam," Tara replied, her voice tinged with annoyance.

Samantha waved a dismissive hand in the air. "Don't be like that! I'm just having fun!"

Tara finally glanced up from her studying, her eyes filled with frustration. "While I'm stuck here taking care of Mom?"

Samantha's face contorted into a careless expression. "Ugh, don't remind me about that trainwreck."

Tara's glare intensified, her disappointment evident. "She's our mother, Sam."

Samantha rolled her eyes, clearly unaffected by Tara's words. "Whatever. I'm going to bed."

With a wobbly motion, Samantha pushed herself up from the couch, swaying slightly as she regained her balance. She stumbled her way to her room, leaving Tara behind, shaking her head in exasperation. She returned her focus to her books, determined to block out the chaos that seemed to follow her sister wherever she went.

In the silence of the house, Tara continued to study, her dedication shining through the turmoil that surrounded her. Deep down, she knew that her responsibilities extended beyond her own ambitions, but it was a burden she bore with resilience and determination.

-

Tara sat at the kitchen table, diligently eating a bowl of cereal while reviewing her notes. Across from her, Amber, her girlfriend, watched with a concerned expression on her face.

"Babe, did you get any sleep last night?" Amber asked, her voice filled with worry.

Tara shook her head, her eyes fixed on the table without looking up.

"You have to take care of yourself too, you know?" Amber continued, her tone gentle. "Let me help out with your mom sometime."

Tara's irritation surfaced, and she responded curtly, "I told you, I've got it handled."

Amber persisted, her concern evident. "But you're exhausted! It's not healthy, this constant focus on taking care of her."

Finally, Tara lifted her gaze, her eyes filled with anger. "It's not a constant focus, Amber. It's my responsibility."

Amber challenged her, her voice tinged with frustration. "Since when? She's your mom; she should be taking care of you."

Tara's anger intensified, and she snapped back, "You don't get it. You've never had to deal with this."

Amber's words cut deep, and Tara flinched. Just then, Samantha, Tara's sister, shuffled out of her room, clearly suffering from a hangover.

"Jesus, can you two shut up?" Samantha groaned, holding her head in pain. "My head is killing me."

Amber's frustration spilled over, and she retorted, "Oh, I'm sorry, did we wake up the princess?"

Samantha fired back sharply, "Bite me, Amber."