Selfish For Once [Student/Teacher]

Prologue

"Mommy, why does daddy have to work so far away?" My seven year old self asked my mother as we ate of what was left in our kitchen. "To pay for our needs," She answered in a monotone without glancing at me. "Will he come back soon?" I asked, jumping on my seat excitedly. The clattering sound of a fork falling made my jumping cease and glance at my mother. "He's far away because of us, so we can live! Don't be selfish!" I shut my mouth after that.

~

"Grandmama, why does mommy have to go, too?" My eight year old self asked my grandmother as tears rolled down my cheeks, "I want her back," I sobbed. "It's so she can support you more, now don't be selfish."

~

"Mommy, why do you have to get a divorce with daddy?" My nine year old self stood beside my mother's bed while she cradled herself as tears rolled down her face in an endless waterfall. She looked up at me angrily, "It's just not working out, okay? Stop being selfish and think of others' feelings, too!" I stood there and looked at her with wide eyes and nodded, then I proceeded to my room, where I cried myself to sleep.

~

"Mom, why did you have to break up with the other guy? I like him for you. He's nice to me, too. I don't like the new guy. I mean, yeah, he's handsome and rich, but he's mean.." My eleven year old self asked as my mother faced the mirror and put a little bit too much make up. "Stop interfereing! It's my life! I date who I want. Don't be selfish." She grumbled the last part, but I heard it.

~

"Natallie, your brothers, Ethan and I are going on a vacation. Guard the house and don't call us. You'll just interrupt," My mother called out from downstairs as my fourteen year old self lounged in my room, doing nothing. "'Kay.." I replied, loud enough for her to hear.

~

"Dad, I want to see you.." My sixteen year old self whisered to the computer as I buried my face between my knees and chest, my arms around my legs. "I know, but my wife doesn't want me to see you and we have to take care of our child. So don't make things complicated." He said, not even an ounce of warmth in his voice. Then he hung up without any further words.

~

Don't be selfish, they said. It's for my own good, they said.