When I was only eight months old, my mother relinquished all her parental responsibilities and departed from my life. My childhood was shaped by the presence of my father alone, the two of us forming a tight-knit bond. Whenever I inquired about her, he would explain that she never reached out, never inquired about my well-being, never showed concern. To me, she became a spectral figure—existing somewhere in the world but entirely absent from my reality. I never encountered her in person. Her voice remained a mystery to me. She was merely an empty space in the narrative of my life.
Then, a year ago, an event unfolded that I could never have anticipated. While working at a law firm, where I had been steadily advancing my career, I noticed her name listed on the appointment schedule. My pulse quickened. It seemed impossible, I told myself. Yet, when she stepped into the office, all doubts vanished. It was indeed her—my mother. She didn’t recognize me. To her, I was simply another employee at the desk. But to me, she was the enigma I had pondered over for my entire existence. A torrent of emotions surged within me—anger, sorrow, and an overwhelming curiosity. I longed to demand answers: Why did you abandon me? Why was I not worth staying for? Yet, I remained seated, paralyzed by the moment.
As she completed paperwork and conversed with one of the attorneys, I observed her closely. Her polite smile, the faint lines framing her eyes, the cadence of her laugh—these small traits felt oddly familiar, as though I were glimpsing fragments of myself in her. She left the office without ever realizing who I was, and I made no move to reveal myself. That evening, tears flowed more intensely than they had in years—not only for the mother I never knew, but for the resolution I thought I craved but never attained.
In that moment of reflection, a profound truth emerged: family is not always defined by those who bring you into existence. Often, it is the ones who remain, who stand by you, who nurture you with unwavering devotion. My father embodied both roles in my life. He stayed, he persevered, and he loved me without condition. Though I may never receive answers from her, I have come to understand that I already possess everything I need from him.
