The Past Within - Mialotte - TNN

Parents

As Mia and Charlotte settled on the couch, the soft glow of the TV illuminated their faces while the movie played in the background. Charlotte leaned against Mia, feeling the warmth of her body and the comfort of their quiet moments together. The movie wasn't all that engaging, but the night was more about being close than the plot itself.

Halfway through, Mia muted the volume and turned to Charlotte with a wide smile. "Hey, so... I wanted to tell you something." Her eyes sparkled with excitement, but there was a hint of nervousness, too.

Charlotte straightened up a little, sensing the shift in mood. "What's up?" she asked, curious.

Mia bit her lip, her fingers gently playing with Charlotte's. "My mom's been asking about you... a lot, actually. She really wants to meet you."

Charlotte blinked in surprise, feeling a sudden wave of emotions wash over her—flattered, nervous, but mostly touched by how much Mia's family cared. "Really?" she asked softly. "That's... wow, that's huge." A smile spread across her face, but she felt the familiar tug of anxiety at the thought of meeting someone so important to Mia.

Mia nodded enthusiastically. "She's really excited. I think she's going to love you." She squeezed Charlotte's hand gently. "So, whenever you're ready, no pressure."

Charlotte chuckled, easing the tension a bit. "I'd love to meet her. It's just... wow. Meeting the mom, that's a big step."

Mia smiled warmly. "Yeah, it is. But I'm sure it'll be great." She paused for a moment, her eyes searching Charlotte's. "Speaking of... I've never asked much about your mom. I know it's a sensitive subject, but... if you want to talk about it, I'm here."

Charlotte's smile faded slightly as she sat back, her hand reflexively tugging at the edge of the blanket. She looked down at her lap, her mind flicking through old memories she'd tried to keep buried.

After a brief silence, she finally spoke, her voice quieter. "My mom and I... we don't have the best relationship. We haven't spoken in about five years."

Mia's face softened, her eyes full of understanding. "Oh, Charlotte... I didn't know. I'm sorry."

Charlotte shrugged, though the weight of the history between her and her mother was heavy in the air. "It's complicated. We just... we never really saw eye to eye. She's very traditional, and when I came out, things got worse. We fought all the time, and eventually, I just couldn't take it anymore. We stopped talking, and that was that."

Mia's hand tightened around Charlotte's, a comforting presence as she listened. "That must have been so hard," Mia said quietly. "I can't imagine going through that."

Charlotte nodded, feeling the old wounds ache a little. "It was. But... I guess I got used to it. I mean, I've got Steph, and she's been amazing. But not having my mom around... still hurts, sometimes. Especially seeing how close you are with your mom." She let out a small, self-deprecating laugh. "It's funny, isn't it? Five years and I don't even know if she remembers my birthday anymore."

Mia shifted closer, wrapping her arm around Charlotte's shoulders. "You don't have to carry that hurt alone, you know?" she whispered. "I'm here. Whenever you want to talk, or not talk, I'm here."

Charlotte leaned into Mia, closing her eyes for a moment and letting herself feel the comfort of her girlfriend's support. "Thanks, Mia. I really appreciate that."

They sat in silence for a little while, the movie forgotten as Charlotte processed everything she had shared. It wasn't often she let herself open up about her family, especially her mother. But with Mia, it felt safe, like she didn't have to hide that part of herself anymore.