Motherless

36

As I write this book I just love Melody man she's a mother I wish I could be in the future. Do y'all have a mother like her if  so I'm happy for you and kinda jealous 😤 Anyways don't forget to vote and enjoy!😊

Melody

The drive home was quiet, the kind of comfortable silence that lingers after a long, emotional day. Talia sat in the passenger seat, her head resting against the window. The soft hum of the engine was the only sound, and I could see her reflection in the glass, lost in thought.

I reached over and gave her knee a gentle squeeze. "You okay, mi cielo?"

She turned her head slightly, offering me a small, tired smile. "Yeah, just thinking."

"About the party?" I prompted, my voice soft.

She nodded but didn't say anything right away. I didn't push her. I knew Talia sometimes needed time to sort through her feelings before she could put them into words.

As we pulled into our driveway, I glanced over at her again. "You wanna talk about it inside? Or just head to bed?"

Talia shrugged, unbuckling her seatbelt. "Inside, I guess."

We made our way into the house, the quiet following us. I set my purse on the counter and turned to see Talia already curling up on the couch, her knees pulled to her chest. She looked so small in that moment, and my heart ached with love for her.

I grabbed a blanket and draped it over her before sitting down beside her. "You were amazing today," I said gently. "Everyone adored you."

Talia smiled faintly, but her eyes were still distant. "Your family is... a lot," she said, her tone almost teasing.

I chuckled. "They are. But they loved having you there. You made their day, Talia. Especially Abuela."

Her lips twitched at the mention of my mom, and she let out a soft laugh. "She hugged me so tight I thought I was gonna pass out."

"She's just excited. You're the first grandchild she's met in a long time," I said, nudging her shoulder lightly. "You're special, Talia. She sees that. We all do."

Talia's smile faded slightly, and she shifted, pulling the blanket tighter around herself. "It felt... weird. Being there."

I tilted my head, watching her closely. "Weird how?"

"Like... I don't know. Everyone was so nice, and it felt good, but..." She hesitated, biting her lip. "I kept thinking I don't deserve it."

Her words hit me like a punch to the chest. I moved closer, wrapping an arm around her shoulders and pulling her against me. "Why would you think that?"

She shrugged, her voice barely above a whisper. "Because of everything I've been through. Because of my mom. She didn't love me, not like this. I don't know what I did wrong, but she never made me feel... good enough. And now, being with you, having all these people accept me—it feels like I'm stealing something that's not mine."

"Talia," I said, my voice trembling with emotion. I turned her to face me, cupping her cheeks in my hands. "Listen to me, and really hear me, okay?"

She nodded, her eyes wide and glistening.

"You didn't do anything wrong," I said firmly. "What happened with your mom and your past—that's not on you. None of it is your fault. You've been through things no child should ever have to go through, but that doesn't mean you're unworthy of love. It's the opposite. It means you deserve it even more."