Martha started selling her other small businesses just to make ends meet. Spencer ended up fighting with her over the bank statements he had signed and even threatened to sue his own mother.
I moved with Zoey to a bright apartment in a quiet part of town. I bought a new bed and light colored curtains for our new home.
At night, I filled out the application to study law while Zoey slept peacefully in her room. One early morning, my phone rang and I saw it was Martha calling me.
At first, I did not even recognize her voice because she sounded so broken and defeated. “Sarah, I am losing everything.” she said while crying over the phone.
She told me she was losing her businesses and the house because she did not know the truth. She begged for my help and claimed that we were still family.
“Do you remember what you told me in my kitchen?” I asked her without raising my voice. There was only silence on the other end of the line.
I reminded her that she wanted the house, the office, and the accounts. “I gave you exactly what you asked for.” I said.
Martha tried to protest, but I interrupted her to say that I did not deceive her. I simply did not show her what was not legally hers to see.
“I hope you find a way out of this, but you have no more business in my life.” I said before hanging up. It was the first time I felt like I could truly breathe again.
Zoey woke up and walked toward me while dragging her favorite blanket. “Mom, has Dad found his horse in the clouds yet?” she asked softly.
I hugged her tightly and told her that he was watching us from up there. When she fell asleep again, I reread the last line of David’s letter.
“Do not let them take what matters, let them take the rest.” the letter said. In the end, that is exactly what happened in our lives.
Martha kept the rest while I kept what mattered most.
THE END.
