Because I love you..

Dear Son,

On your first day in college I want you to know that your father and I will always be there for you. I know it’s hard being so far away, but you should know that the opportunity you have is something we never did. Please take care of yourself, and when it seems hard just count the blessings that have gotten you this far.

…..

Hey Mom!

Hi mijo! How’s my baby doing?

Mom, I’m not a baby anymore!

You’ll always be my baby. Do you need anything?

I mean I’m out of  laundry detergent.

I’ll put some money in your account so that you can buy some, and next time don’t wait so long to tell your dad and I, you goofball.

Thank you Mom, I’ll try not to.

….

It’s crazy that when I was younger, sometimes you would say you weren’t hungry.

Oh Christian, you might not remember, but we didn’t always have enough money to pay for groceries.

So you’re saying you would just go without so that I could eat. That kind of makes me feel bad.

No, don’t feel bad. It was just the way things were for a while. I still ate, just not three times a day.

But why?

Sweetie, because I love you.

…

Dad, why do you have canned soup in your room?

I eat it of course.

Yeah, but why don’t you keep it in the kitchen.

Because that’s where I put the food for grandpa and grandma.

I don’t really understand.

I eat these soups. Your grandparents eat what’s in the kitchen.

But, why?

On top of helping to take care of you while you’re at college I support them. After the bills, medication, keeping your grandparents fed and the times we spend going out when you come home to visit I can only afford to eat sandwiches and the soup you see here.

Dad, why didn’t you tell me?

Son, don’t worry about it. I’m healthy. I work night shifts, so I don’t really eat during the day because I’m asleep during that time, and when I’m off and you’re here I enjoy the meals we share together.

But still why not just tell me? I can get a job while I’m at school. I mean I’ve been trying to.

That’s okay. I do this because I love you mijo.

…

Mom, why doesn’t Dad live with us?

Oh Christian. I want you to know. It has nothing to do with you. We both love you very much, but we can’t say the same for each other anymore.

But you said I was the product of yours and my dad’s love?

That’s true mijo, and that always will be. It’s just our love became destructive. Your dad and I kept making each other mad and sad. So, I decided to leave so that you wouldn’t have to grow up around that.

Mom, I want to be with Dad.

Even though it hurts to hear you say that. If you want to be with Dad, I’ll let you. Because it pains me to hear you cry and because I love you. Now try to get some sleep so that you can wake up tomorrow for school.

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