PAGE 6 — WHAT MY MOTHER HAD DONE
The next morning, Officer Ramirez asked my mother to come to the hospital.
Ashley came with her.
I stood across from them.
For the first time in my life, my mother couldn’t look me in the eyes.
“Mom.”
She cried.
“Ethan…”
“Tell me the truth.”
She shook her head.
“I was trying to help.”
“Help who?”
“You.”
I laughed bitterly.
“You almost killed my wife and my son.”
“I didn’t mean for that to happen.”
“Then what did you mean to happen?”
Silence.
Finally, Ashley spoke.
“Mom had debts.”
I looked at her.
“How much?”
Ashley began crying.
“Almost sixty thousand dollars.”
I stared at my mother.
“How?”
She looked away.
“Loans.”
“What kind?”
“Personal loans.”
“Why?”
She wouldn’t answer.
Officer Ramirez spoke.
“Mrs. Miller, we already know about the private lender.”
My mother’s face changed.
She had been caught.
She finally whispered:
“I borrowed money to help Ashley.”
I turned toward my sister.
Ashley looked down.
“Why?”
“College.”
I frowned.
“You told me Ashley’s tuition was paid.”
“It was.”
“Then where did the money go?”
No answer.
Officer Ramirez placed another document on the table.
“Mrs. Miller, we found evidence that you used your son’s personal information when applying for several loans.”
My mother’s face went white.
I couldn’t speak.
She had used my information.
My credit.
My identity.
My family.
Then she looked at me.
“I thought I could fix everything before you found out.”
“You used my name.”
“I was going to pay it back.”
“You lied to me.”
“I was desperate.”
“And Emily?”
My voice broke.
“What did she have to do with your debt?”
My mother started crying.
“I needed her to sign some documents.”
“She refused.”
“She didn’t understand.”
“No.”
I stepped closer.
“She understood perfectly.”
My mother covered her face.
“I never wanted her hurt.”
“But you left her without food.”
“I thought Ashley would take care of her.”
Ashley immediately shouted:
“I told you I couldn’t do everything!”
The room went silent.
I looked at my sister.
“What?”
Ashley wiped her tears.
“Mom kept telling me Emily was fine.”
“You were there.”
“I checked on her.”
“When?”
Ashley looked away.
“Not enough.”
I felt anger rising inside me.
“You both knew.”
Neither answered.
That was enough.
The police arrested my mother.
Ashley wasn’t arrested that day, but she was taken in for questioning.
I watched them leave.
I expected to feel relief.
Instead, I felt empty.
Because no matter what they had done, they were still my mother and my sister.
And I had spent my entire life believing they loved me.
Now I had to learn how to live without trusting them.
