Chapter 2: The Secret Behind The Free Room
I stood outside my mother’s house with my phone in my hand, staring at my aunt’s message.
“Your mother never told you what Marcus did before he moved in.””
My first thought was that it had to be a misunderstanding.
My second thought was that my aunt had always disliked Marcus.
But the third thought scared me.
What if she knew something I didn’t?
I called her back.
She answered on the first ring.
“Are you alone?”” she asked.
I frowned.
“Why?””
“Because this isn’t something your mother wants you hearing from me.””
I looked back at the house.
Through the window, I could see my mother talking to Marcus.
They looked serious.
“What happened?””
My aunt was silent for a moment.
Then she said, “Before Marcus moved in, your mother was struggling.””
“I know.””
“No, you don’t.””
Her voice became softer.
“She wasn’t just struggling with money. She was struggling with loneliness.””
I leaned against my car.
“What does that have to do with him not paying rent?””
“Everything.””
I waited.
My aunt continued.
“Marcus came into her life when she was vulnerable. He told her everything she wanted to hear. He said he would take care of her. He said she deserved someone who appreciated her.””
I looked toward the house again.
“And?””
“And then slowly, your mother started covering everything.””
My stomach tightened.
“What do you mean?””
“I mean groceries. Utilities. His car problems. His phone bill.””
I closed my eyes.
“So she’s been paying for him?””
“Yes.””
The answer was quiet.
But it felt loud.
I thought about all those months.
All those conversations where my mother complained about money.
All those times she asked me if I could “help just a little more.””
I whispered, “Why didn’t she tell me?””
“Because she knew you would question it.””
I looked at the ground.
Maybe that was true.
Maybe I would have.
But I didn’t understand why she was angry at me for noticing something she already knew.
That evening, I went back inside.
The house felt different.
Same walls.
Same furniture.
But everything felt heavier.
My mother was sitting at the kitchen table.
Marcus was nowhere around.
“You called Aunt Lisa?”” she asked.
I stopped.
“How did you know?””
She looked away.
“She always gets involved.””
I sat across from her.
“Mom, why didn’t you tell me?””
“Tell you what?””
“That you’ve been paying for everything.””
Her face changed.
A small crack appeared in her confidence.
“Your aunt likes to exaggerate.””
“Is she wrong?””
Silence.
That was my answer.
My mother rubbed her forehead.
“You don’t understand.””
“Then help me understand.””
She looked at me.
“He was there for me when nobody else was.””
I nodded slowly.
“I’m glad someone was there for you.””
Her eyes softened.
“But that doesn’t mean he gets to live like a king while you make sacrifices.””
She looked hurt.
“You think I don’t appreciate you?””
“I think you stopped seeing me.””
That sentence made her freeze.
For a few seconds, neither of us spoke.
Then she whispered, “I never stopped loving you.””
I looked at her.
“Then why does it feel like I’m the person you’re asking to prove his love?””
Her eyes filled with tears.
But before she could answer, Marcus walked back into the room.
He had heard enough.
“You’re still doing this?””
I turned.
“Doing what?””
“Trying to make your mother choose.””
I stood up.
“No. I’m trying to make her see.””
Marcus shook his head.
“You’re young. You think everything is about money.””
I laughed once.
“No. I think everything is about respect.””
My mother looked between us.
“Please stop.””
But Marcus wasn’t finished.
“You should be grateful your mother lets you stay here.””
I stared at him.
That sentence told me everything.
Not because it was cruel.
Because he actually believed it.
I looked at my mother.
“Does he really think that?””
She didn’t answer.
And somehow, that hurt more.
I grabbed my jacket.
“Where are you going?”” she asked.
“I’m staying with a friend tonight.””
Her expression changed.
“Over this?””
I shook my head.
“No, Mom.””
I opened the door.
“Because of everything that happened before this.””
I stepped outside.
Then my mother called my name.
I turned around.
She was holding an old box from the closet.
A box I had never seen before.
Her hands were shaking.
“I need to show you something.””
I looked at the box.
“What is it?””
She swallowed.
“It’s the reason Marcus moved in.””
I walked back slowly.
My mother opened the lid.
Inside was a stack of old papers and photographs.
She picked up one photo and handed it to me.
The moment I saw the person standing beside Marcus in the picture, my entire body went cold.
May you like
Because it wasn’t just Marcus’s secret.
It was someone else’s too.
