(DISCONTINUED) 𝐒𝐇𝐄'𝐒 𝐓𝐇𝐔𝐍𝐃𝐄𝐑𝐒𝐓𝐎𝐑𝐌𝐒 - 𝐁𝐑𝐀𝐃𝐘 𝐍𝐎𝐎𝐍

𝟏𝟓

Angelica sat on her bed, lying comfortably. her makeup was still displayed on her face, though it was rubbing off onto her pillow. her bold outfit was still stuck to her body, as she scrolled through her phone.

to tell the truth, angelica's mind wasn't exactly focused on her media apps. all she could think about was how her 'date' with brady went.

angelica was lost deep in her thought about brady before she heard keys rattling in her door, and the alarm going off for a second.

angelica was caught by surprise, even though she knew who it was. her mom was finally home, after not returning for weeks on end.

angelica slowly slithered out of bed to reluctantly greet her mother.

she didn't dislike her mother, nothing of the sort. she used to do everything with her mother. the two were practically attached at the hip, until angelica turned eight. her father ran off with some college girl, and her mother began to work more to support their family, until angelica landed a small voice acting job, and slowly set them on to a path of success.

but even after angelica's mother slowly became more wealthy, she just began to work more. she slowly became some toxic workaholic that constantly stayed away from home, with the slight resentment of her own daughter.

angelica didn't hate her mom. she admired her. even after her father left the picture, her mother stood strong and supported her family, until she was nine.

angelica snapped out of her thoughts, and slowly made her way downstairs to see her mom rushing around with a dozen grocery bags spread around the kitchen.

"hey, mom." she finally said, grabbing her moms attention, making her way to thre other side of the kitchen that her mother was on.

"oh, hi sweetie. thank god your home. listen, do you think you could put away all of these groceries? i have to head back to work for an important meeting and then i have to rush off to new jersey for another conference. i can't believe tomkins has been on my ass for the past few months, making me travel everywhere."

angelica refrained from rolling her eyes. youseff tomkins was angelica's mothers boss, and every time her mother returned home, she would frequently complain about all of the chores that youseff has her do in a cycle.

but she knew it wasn't true. angelica knew half of her mothers work trips were signed on on her behalf, which meant she basically volunteered to go.

angelica took her mothers disappearing from her life completely very hard. angelica had to find a way to cook for herself, and live by herself. she was only ten when this cycle began.

"yea." she briefly replied, picking up some vegetables and placing them in the fridge.

"look sweetie, i really have to run, but i promise i'll see you after i get back. then we can have a fun mother daughter day, just like old times okay?" her mother told her, taking her hands and intertwining them with her cold ones, squeezing her daughters hands comfortingly.

angelica didn't hold eye contact with her mother, because if she did she would start crying any moment.

"yea. sure" angelica said, her voice swelled with fake hope. she knew that would never happen.
her mom has been promising that same 'mother daughter trip' for just around four years now.

"great. i love you sweetie." her mom told her, before escaping angelica's desperate grasp in her hands, and grabbing her purse.

angelica's eyes swelled with tears as she watched her mother open the door.

as her mom was about to take one step outside, angelica asked the question she never thought she'd ask.

"do you hate me?"

her mother looked back at her, with complete confusion spread on her face.

"sweetie, what?"

"i said, do you hate me?" she repeated, with more anger pouring into her voice as it gets progressively louder.

"oh, honey, where'd you get that from? i love you so much." her mom told her running back to her, putting her hands on her shoulders.

"no, you don't. you hate me. ever since i started acting, you haven't been home for more than two days at a time. i didn't do anything. i was just a kid. i still am a kid. whyd you leave me? i didn't do anything. you feed me this bullshit about hating work, but in reality, you love it more than me. why? do you hate me cause i make money ? i only started acting to help you. my only intentions ever were only to help you. now that i'm actually famous, i bet you can't stand me. i thought you would be proud of the point that i've made it to. i've only ever done anything for your approval, and the only thing you've ever done is leave. why?"

angelica was shocked at herself, as she gasped for breath. she couldn't believe she finally asked her mom the question that was burning inside her brain for years.

angelica snapped out of her thoughts to see if her mother was to reply, but she stayed silent.

"mom?"

angelica finally looked in her moms eyes, and she could see her mom was crying.

"oh, sweetie. i don't hate you. i love you more than anything. i just need something to fill the hole in me. ever since your father left.. oh. it's been too much. oh, baby i miss him so much. and you reminded me so much of him, your bubbly personalities, everything. so i shut you out. i know, it was foolish, and it still is. but i just never want to face your father again."

her mothers voice broke after her last sentence, and began to sob. looking at this sight was the saddest thing angelica had ever seen.

angelica now realized that after her father left, her mother was so strong. she never cried. she always seemed happy. angelica didn't get how she pulled it off. she saw now that all of that rage and sadness was piled up in her chest and was finally seeping out of her.

"i love you, baby. i love you so much. i promise you, i will get tomkins to reduce my hours. i will never go on a stupid business trip ever again. it'll be us again together. for real this time. i love you." her mother promised her, higging her tightly.

angelica's eyes welled with tears, as they slowly left and rolled down her face.

"i love you too mom." she said quietly, before burying her face in her mothers shoulder.

angelica couldn't guarantee this would change anything, or if her mom was just bluffing, but she felt that this would be different.

she knew things would be different.