My Ugly Mother

 

MY UGLY MOTHER

 

Teressa navigated the morning traffic in her old green car, honking angrily at a very expensive looking car that just cut across her dangerously.. As she’s driving, she keeps telling her day schedule, to her daughter at the back, lost in the glow of her phone, offered half-hearted nods to her mother's updates.

"I might be late tonight," Teressa mentioned, her tired eyes flickering in the rearview mirror. "You can order some foods, I’ll give you extra cash."

Melissa barely registered her mother's words, fixated on a screen that seemed more real than the passing scenery. Frustration simmered in Teressa's chest as Melissa abruptly interrupted, "Just drop me off at the next intersection. I'll walk from there."

Teressa's hands tightened on the wheel, a quiet determination settling over her. "Not today. I'll drop you at the school gate."

“Mom, I want to walk.” Melissa contest.

“You always want to walk. Is there something you don’t want me to see at your school or something?”

“Nothing. I just want to walk.”

“No! Today I want to send you to the gate. You don’t have to walk.”

“Mom! Just let me walk!”

Their exchange turned terse, punctuated by the sudden screech of brakes as they approached a red light, luckily stopped in time before getting ramed by the oncoming traffic. In that split second, Melissa seized her chance, exit the car amidst the halted traffic, leaving Teressa dissapointed behind the wheel.

Hours later at night, the living room lay cloaked in shadows, Teressa perched on the edge of the couch, her anticipation mingling with exhaustion. She had waited, hoping for a moment to talk with Melissa. When the door creaked open, she snapped on the light, catching her daughter in the act of sneaking in.

"Where have you been?" Teressa's voice was a mixture of concern and frustration, tinged with hurt.

Melissa's shoulders tensed defensively. "I don't want another lecture."

“You need to tell me NOW, what’s going on?” You always comes home later than me, you keeps wanting to walk to school. Tell me now!” urged the mother.

“What are you talking about? There’s nothing going on.” Says the daughter.

“Melissa, don’t lie to me. I know when you’re lying.”

“I’m NOT lying. Why don’t you believe me?”

“I read you report. Why have your grade gone down? Have you been skipping school? Is that why you wanted to walk?”

“NO I’M NOT SKIPPING SCHOOL.” Melissa furious at her mother for slandering her.

“Stop screaming! Just admit it.”

Their conversation quickly escalated into a heated argument, words flung like weapons in the dimly lit room.

Finally, Melissa's outburst cut through the tension, "It's because... because you're ugly, okay? I can't stand people seeing us together!"

Teressa froze, stung by the raw honesty of her daughter's words, a silence heavy with disbelief settling between them.

“I’m sorry, what? How can you say that?”

“Why can’t I? You’re ugly and because I’m your daughter, I”M ALSO UGLY.”

“Honey, how can you say that?” Teressa’s voice breaking.

“They keep calling me ugly and it’s because of you!” Mellisa screams before stomping to her room.

Teressa just left there, falling to the chair in disbelief.

….…

The next day, morning came. Teressa, still shocked by their last night conversation, wants to check on her before they get ready for breakfast, but she’s not in her room. She realizes that Melissa has slip out of the house before Teressa had a chance to confront her again. Her school uniform, usually draped behind her door, was absent, indicating that she wanted to go to school by herself today.

At work, Teressa's thoughts wandered, her mind preoccupied with thoughts of Melissa. Her keyboard in front of her hasn’t been touched for a long time while her mind is elsewhere. Dean, who sit across her, noticed her distracted state and approached her desk with a gentle concern.

"How are you holding up today? Something wrong?" Dean inquired softly.

Teressa managed a faint smile, but her thoughts were miles away. “Nothing, everything’s fine.”

“Break room. I’ll make coffee for you.”

Before she can refused, Dean already walking away from their desk, forcing her to follow him.

The smell of coffee fills the small break room at the anex of their office. Dean place a cup in front of her and sips the one in his hand.

"Can I ask you something?" she ventured, her voice tinged with anxiety. "Do you think I'm... ugly?"

Dean nearly choked on his coffee, caught off guard by the unexpected question. He hesitated, searching for the right words to ease the weight of her question.

“Why.. why do you ask?” He asks back.

“Nothing, just wondering.”

“Well… how do I say this?” Dean stumbled over his response.

Teressa understand it right away, managed a tight-lipped smile, masking the hurt that gnawed at her. She thanked Dean for the coffee and retreated to her desk with the lingering ache in her heart.

….…

Teressa's car pulled into the school parking lot, the afternoon sun casting long shadows across the pavement. She had left work early, her mind filled with worry as she contemplated last night events. The school grounds buzzed with activity as students hurried to catch buses or lingered for after-school activities. Teressa knew Melissa would likely still be in her tuition class, a routine they had settled because of her declining grades.

Anxiety gnawed at her as she stepped out of the car, the air filled with a mix of excitement and anticipation of the upcoming weekend. The students exiting the school compound happily after a long tiring week of classes. Teressa hesitated for a moment before entering the school building. She gathered her resolve, determined to confront the issues plaguing her daughter.

After navigating a series hallways, she reach the teacher’s office. She knocks on the door and a woman opens it, revealing a group of teachers working at their desk. She askes for the teacher responsible for taking care of her daughter’s class so the woman calls for a teacher to come. Miss Aileen appears, shaking her hand in greeting. After revealing her intention coming here, they go to the side of the room, into a small meeting room to talk.

Inside the cramped confines of the room, Teressa sat opposite Miss Aileen, Melissa's class teacher. The walls were adorned with children's artwork and educational posters, creating an atmosphere of warmth despite the serious nature of their conversation. Miss Aileen, a beautiful woman with gentle eyes, listened intently as Teressa poured out her concerns about Melissa.

"Miss Aileen, I've noticed Melissa hasn't been herself lately," Teressa began, her voice tinged with worry. "She seems withdrawn, and she's been avoiding me at home. Is there something wrong at school.”

Miss Aileen nodded sympathetically, leaning forward with a reassuring smile. "Teressa, I appreciate you coming in. But I haven't noticed any academic issues, apart from her grade has been declining since last term."

Teressa sighed, her shoulders slumping with the weight of her worries. "I just want to understand what's going on with her. She said people are calling her …. ugly.”

Miss Aileen offered a comforting pat on Teressa's hand. " I’m not aware of any of that. Let's see if we can get to the bottom of this together. I'll speak with Melissa tomorrow and see if she opens up about anything troubling her."

Teressa and Miss Aileen continued their discussion. Teressa's mind raced with thoughts of Melissa's behavior and the impact of her divorce on their lives. Miss Aileen listened attentively, her expression thoughtful as Teressa recounted Melissa's recent behavior and her growing sense of isolation.

"It's hard, you know," Teressa confessed, her voice barely above a whisper. "Ever since her father and I split up, I feel like I'm failing her somehow."

Miss Aileen reached across the table, her hand resting gently on Teressa's. "You're doing your best, Teressa. Parenting is never easy, especially during transitions like divorce."

Teressa nodded, grateful for Miss Aileen's understanding. "I just want Melissa to know that I'm here for her, no matter what."

Miss Aileen offered a reassuring smile. "I'll keep a close eye on her, Teressa. We'll figure this out together."

As Teressa made her way back towards the school parking lot, she passed by a classroom where voices drifted through an open window. One of the voice is a familiar voice to her. Melissa's voice, tinged with frustration and longing, caught her attention.

"...I wish I could just go live with my dad. At least he's normal," Melissa's words cut through the air, laced with sadness and a hint of resentment.

Teressa froze in her tracks, her heart breaking at Melissa's words. She pressed closer to the window, straining to hear the rest of the conversation.

“Then you have to leave us. He’s in another state right?” says one of her friend.

“It’s better there, I don’t have to see my mom everyday.”

"Why? Your mom is also ugly?" another voice chimed in from inside the classroom, followed by snickers from the group.

“Stop it, Nicky. Don’t say that.” Melissa’s friend defending her.

“You should stop hanging with this ugly girl, it’s contagious you know. You’ll be ugly like her.” says Nicky, hurting Melissa’s feeling..

Teressa's blood boiled with a mix of anger and sorrow. Without a second thought, she pushed open the classroom window, her presence commanding attention from the startled students inside.

The classroom fell silent as Teressa's gaze swept across the room, settling on Melissa and the group of children gathered around her desk. The children, caught in the act of teasing, froze in place, their faces pale with guilt as they met Teressa's furious glare.

Melissa, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment, stood frozen beside her desk. "Mom, what are you doing here?" she whispered, mortified by her mother's unexpected intrusion.

Ignoring Melissa's question, Teressa's voice cut through the tension, sharp with indignation. "Is this how you treat each other? Making fun of my daughter?”

The children shifted uncomfortably, their earlier bravado evaporating under Teressa's stern gaze. One girl stammered an apology, but Teressa wasn't about to let them off the hook so easily.

"You have no right to judge others based on their appearance," Teressa continued, her voice unwavering. "Melissa is my daughter, and she deserves your respect."

“Yeah, I can see that. She IS your daughter.” Nicky remarks makes some of the students chuckle, but makes Teress even more furious.

            “You wait there. Don’t go anywhere.” Teressa rushes back into the building, trying to find that classroom.

        When she finds it, she storm inside but the bullies are no longer there. Melissa walks past her in dissapointment, embarassed because of her mother.

        Her eyes filled with tears, torn between humiliation and a hint of relief. She wanted her mother's protection, but not like this, not in front of her peers.

 

….…

 

Teressa barged into Miss Aileen's cluttered office, her expression a mix of anger and concern. Papers scattered as she slammed the door shut behind her, startling Miss Aileen, who looked up with a puzzled frown.

"Miss Aileen, do you know what's happening to Melissa?" Teressa demanded, her voice sharp with urgency.

Miss Aileen's eyes widened, taken aback by the accusation. "I... I'm not sure what you mean. Melissa is a good student..."

Teressa cut her off, her frustration boiling over. "Don't lie to me! She's being bullied, and I want to know why you haven't done anything about it!"

Miss Aileen stammered, trying to defend herself, but Teressa was relentless. Before anyone could intervene, Teressa grabbed Miss Aileen's arm, her nails digging into the teacher's skin. They struggled briefly, desks and chairs pushed aside in the chaos until other teachers rushed in to separate them.

        The two women are pulling each other’s hair out, which Miss Aileen suffering the most pain. The other teachers try to break them apart but cannot overpower the furious Teressa. Suddenly she let go of her grip, causing to be flung backward, into the group of teachers behind. She opens her palm and see a long strand of hair has been pulled hair, scaring Ms Aileen upon seeing her hair in Teressa’s hand.

….…

In her car, parked outside the school, Teressa slumped against the steering wheel. Her hair are a mess, and her forehead a bleeding a little, probably caused by the nail of Miss Aileen. Her hands shook with emotion as she dialed her ex-husband's number, her heart pounding in her chest.

"Dave, we need to talk," she said, her voice cracking with emotion.

….…

At a quiet corner table in a café, Teressa nervously tapped her fingers on the worn wood. She glanced up every time the door opened, searching for Dave among the patrons.

Finally, Dave walked in with his new wife, Melissa. Teressa's stomach twisted with a mix of resentment and desperation. Dave joins her at the table and they exchange a few greetings and their update on their life. Soon Melissa joins them with a cup of coffee in hand. She couldn't talk to him with Melissa there. She gestured subtly for Melissa to excuse them for a moment. Melissa does not get what she means, eagerly sipping on her coffee.

"Melissa, could you... um, maybe check out that boutique we passed? I need to talk to Teressa alone," The husband managed to say, his voice tight with restraint, knowing his fussy wife will nag him later.

Melissa nodded, her expression sympathetic yet cautious, and left them alone with a lingering glance back at Teressa.

As soon as Melissa was out of earshot, Teressa leaned forward, her hands clasped tightly together. "Dave, Melissa is in trouble. She's being bullied at school, and I don't know how to handle it. I need your help."

Dave's face hardened. “Well… since when?”

“I don’t know, I just learned recently.”

“Do you know why?” Teressa is hesitant to answer his question, embarassed to say the reason.

“It’s because.. because….”

“Because?” Dave impatient.

“The other students calls her … ugly.”

Dave’s face are visibly angry but he hold his anger inside. “Did you do anything? Did you tell the school?”

“Yes, yes I did. But Mellisa just refuse to talk to me. I think maybe, she’ll listen to you.

“I’m sorry, I can’t. I appreciate you driving this far to talk to me but I already have plans tomorrow. An important, meeting with a… client. Sorry, cannot make the drive.”

“Dave, this is our daughter we’re talking about.”

“YOUR daughter. You made that clear when we divorced.” Dave reminds her of what happen in the past.

“She needs our help. I can’t deal with it myself.” Begs Teressa.

“Teressa, you said you can take care of her better than me, and you promised me that. You wanted me to leave, I wanted to stay and take care of her.” Dave argue.

“You were cheating on me!” Teressa reminds her.

“Maybe I’m a bad husband but I’m not a bad father and you know it.”

“Then be a good father now.” Says Teressa, which stunned him.

“Well… I was. Now I have my own commitement. I want to spend time with my wife, we rarely go on holiday and tomorrow we finally have the time to be together. You can’t take that away from me.”

Teressa is dissaponted upon hearing what he said. “You said it was a meeting.”

Dave realized his slip-up, trying to correct his words. Their conversation quickly turned into a hurtful exchange of blame and bitterness. Teressa couldn't stand it anymore.

She abruptly stood up. and leave, dissapointed and glad that he’s now his ex-husband. Before she reach the door, she turns back and grabs the coffee left by Melissa and pour it on Dave’s pant, showing her anger to him.

….…

Returning home, already late at night, Teressa's anxiety deepened when she found Melissa's room empty. She checked every corner of the house, but there was no sign of her daughter. Maybe she’s protesting agaisnt her, and spending the night at her friend’s house.

        The morning came, and she’s still not home. Her room are still in the same comdition, does not seem like there’s any signs of her being in there last night. Teressa have been waiting for her only daughter to come home but her absence are worrying her. Panic gnawed at her as she imagined the worst.

Inside Melissa's room, Teressa's eyes fell on a crumpled piece of paper on the floor. It was a pay stub from a convenience store. Her heart sank. Melissa had been hiding a job from her.

Teressa sped to the convenience store listed on the pay stub, her mind racing with worry and anger. She parked hastily and stormed towards the entrance.

Outside, she spotted Melissa near the back alley, taking out the trash. Their eyes locked, and before Teressa could speak, Melissa dashed inside and locked the door behind her. Teressa banged on the glass, her voice rising with frustration.

"Melissa, open this door right now! We need to talk!" she shouted, drawing curious glances from passersby.

Melissa hesitated, torn between defiance and guilt. The store manager intervened, trying to calm the situation. Reluctantly, Teressa backed away, knowing she couldn't force Melissa to face her yet. She turned and walked back to her car, her heart heavy with the weight of their fractured relationship.

Teressa sits on the couch, her anxiety mounting with each passing minute. She tries to suppress her anger, but Melissa doesn't return. She convinces herself that Melissa might have run away for the night, fearing to face her mother's reprimand.

The next day, her daughter are still nowhere to be seen. She tries to surpress her anger and will give her some times to come home, giving her chance to gather her courage to ask for forgiveness.

The next day, she’s still not home. Teressa angrily, screaming, leaving voicemails on Melissa’s phone, asking her to come home before she goes out looking for her.

The next morning, Melissa’s still hasn’t come home. Teressa rushes to the convenience store hoping to find Melissa, only to discover from the manager that she quit a few days before. It becomes clear to Teressa that Melissa has truly run away. She calls Melissa's phone, but it goes unanswered. Desperate, she tries to track her phone's location, but it yields no results. She starts calling Melissa's classmates, searching for any clue about her whereabouts.

As Teressa prepares to head to the police station, she checks the tracking app one last time and finally sees a location update. Determined, she immediately sets off.

Driving through a rough part of town, Teressa notices shady figures lurking around. She arrives at a run-down motel, the latest location on Melissa's tracker. She waits anxiously, scanning the area for any sign of her daughter. After a while, she ventures into the motel to inquire about Melissa's presence. At the entrance, a figure in a hoodie, mask, and sunglasses collides with her. Startled, Teressa looks up and catches a glimpse of Melissa's scared eyes before she flees.

Teressa gives chase through the streets, determined to catch up with the mysterious figure who might be her daughter. Cornered in an alley, the figure stops running. With trembling hands, Teressa removes the mask and sunglasses, revealing a girl with a visibly bruised face.

….……………………………………………………………….

 

Mellisa enters the shady illegal clinic, wanting to get a botox injection. The reception area was dimly lit, and the receptionist, a disinterested woman with heavy makeup, barely acknowledged her as she approached the counter. The receptionist are more interested in taking her money, only explain all the possible good outcome and never explain the bad. Mellisa is desperate, so she signs so many documents, cannot wait to see her face change beautiful already.

Moments later, Melissa found herself in a sterile room with a reclining chair and a nurse preparing syringes and vials. The nurse, whose name tag read 'Nancy', smiled reassuringly. "You're going to love the results," she said, her voice friendly but rushed.

Melissa tried to relax as Nancy began the procedure. The initial injections were uncomfortable, but Melissa's anticipation kept her hopeful. Nancy worked quickly, injecting the dermal filler into strategic points around Melissa's face.

"There we go," Nancy said finally, stepping back to admire her work. "You'll start to see the results in a days. Just rest and avoid touching your face too much."

Grateful and excited, Melissa left the clinic with a smile, her reflection in the mirror showing no immediate change but an anticipation of what was to come. Inside the cheap motel room, she sleeps with a smile on her face, hoping when she wakes up, she will have a prettier face.

Hours passed, and Melissa's excitement waned as a dull ache spread across her cheeks. By morning, her face felt tight and hot, like a sunburn that wouldn't fade. When she looked in the mirror, she gasped in horror.

Her cheeks were swollen and lumpy, the skin around her eyes puffy and red. Pain throbbed beneath the surface, and she could feel heat radiating from the injected areas. Panicked, Melissa called the clinic, but no one answered. 

Afraid to go the emergency room, she just stays inside, scared to show her face to the outside world. Her face throbbing with pain and fear. She collapsed onto the bed, clutching her swollen cheeks, tears streaming down her face. She was too scared to go to the hospital—scared of the consequences, scared of facing the reality of what had happened.

As the hours passed, Melissa's pain became excruciating. The swelling continued to worsen, and she could feel heat radiating from her inflamed skin. Each breath felt like a struggle, and she could barely open her eyes due to the pressure in her face.

Desperate, Melissa searched online for remedies, but her vision was blurry from tears and pain. She tried applying cold compresses, hoping they would reduce the swelling, but it only provided brief relief.

By morning, Melissa's condition had deteriorated further. Her face was now grotesquely distorted, the skin stretched tight and shiny. She could barely recognize herself in the mirror, and the pain was unbearable.

Fear and regret gnawed at her. She knew she couldn't hide forever. She decided to go to the emergency room. After covering herself, she goes out of the motel. Unlucky to her, she bumped into a woman, turns out to be her mother.

….………………………………………………….

Melissa is in tears, her face a mask of pain and regret. Teressa stands before her, stunned to realize the girl in front of her is her own daughter. Melissa pours out her anguish, recounting the ordeal she endured and apologizing profusely to her mother. Teressa's heart breaks for her beloved daughter, and without hesitation, she pulls Melissa into a tight embrace.

They rush Melissa to the hospital, where doctors immediately begin emergency treatment. Melissa is diagnosed with a severe allergic reaction and infection from the procedure. She undergoes surgery to drain abscesses and remove contaminated filler, but the damage is extensive.

Despite the medical team's best efforts, Melissa's recovery is long and challenging. She faces weeks of treatments and surgeries to repair the damage to her face. The scars—both physical and emotional—serve as a stark reminder of the risks she took.

In the quiet moments between treatments, Melissa reflects on her decision to undergo the procedure and then hide instead of seeking immediate medical help. She realizes that fear and shame only prolonged her suffering and worsened her condition. She vows never to make such a mistake again.

Melissa struggles with the aftermath, afraid to face the world, let alone go to school. Teressa works tirelessly to support Melissa's treatments while simultaneously engaging in a legal battle against the illegal clinic and scammers responsible.

Teressa tries to encourage Melissa to return to school, but Melissa is too embarrassed by her appearance. Fortunately, Teressa has hired an expensive private tutor to homeschool Melissa, ensuring she can continue her education while recovering. But the extra finances commitment are taking a tolls on the mother.

Teressa sits at her desk in the office, her eyes heavy with fatigue as she meticulously sifts through documents. The fluorescent lights flicker overhead, casting a sterile glow across her tired face. She types with a determined rhythm, shoulders tense from hours spent hunched over the keyboard. Papers are strewn across her desk—evidence of the extra workload she's taken on to support Melissa and herself. Despite the mounting pressure, she remains focused, pushing through the exhaustion with unwavering determination.

The clock ticks past midnight as Teressa drives along the deserted road, headlights cutting through the darkness. Her hands grip the steering wheel tightly, knuckles white with tension. The hum of the engine is the only sound in the silent night. Fatigue creeps in relentlessly, weighing down her eyelids. Suddenly, a moment of drowsiness overtakes her, and she veers into the wrong lane. Startled awake by the blaring horn of an oncoming car, she jerks the wheel, but it's too late. Metal crunches as her car collides with others, spinning out of control and flipping violently off the road.

….…

Melissa rushes through the hospital corridors, heart pounding with worry. She bursts into the hospital room, scanning the room until her eyes lock on Teressa, her face marred by shards of shattered glass. Tears well up in Melissa's eyes as she rushes to her mother's side, embracing her gently. Teressa winces as Melissa touches her scarred face, a somber reminder of the accident.

Mellisa keeps crying her heart out, feeling guilty as she is the reason of this unfortunate tragedy. Teressa tries to lighten the mood with a faint smile, whispering, "Now I’m uglier than you. You’re prettier than me. You don’t have to be ashamed by your face now." Melissa clings to her mother, overwhelmed with guilt and fear, but Teressa's reassuring touch offers solace amidst the uncertainty.

….…

Weeks pass, and Teressa navigates the familiar route to Melissa's school. The morning sunlight filters through the car windows, casting a warm glow on their journey. Melissa sits quietly beside her, her healing face still marked by faint scars, so does her mother.

Teressa pulls up at the intersection, saying goodbye to her daughter.

“Mom, I don’t want to walk today.” says Melissa.

Proud of her daughter’s courage, Teressa pulls up to the school gates, her heart heavy with a mix of pride and worry. She turns to Melissa, her voice soft yet resolute, "Stay strong, my love. You're beautiful to me." Melissa nods, her resolve strengthened by her mother's unwavering support. With a final hug, Melissa steps out of the car, her gaze forward, ready to embrace each new day.

 

The End