Michael turned to Tommy, his voice calm but firm.
“No. I don’t believe you,” he said. “You didn’t send money. You didn’t come back. She raised me. She’s the only mother I’ve ever known.”
Tommy’s face fell. Michael continued, his words cutting through decades of tension:
“You may have given me life, but you’re not my father. She is my real parent. You lost your place the moment you walked away.”
Tommy attempted to argue, but Michael interrupted. “Leave. There’s no place for you here.”
And just like that, my brother walked away, disappearing into the night.
A Moment of Relief and Love
I felt the weight of years lift from my shoulders. Michael turned to me, his eyes soft.
“You’re my real mother,” he said quietly. “I’m sorry I never said it before, but I know it now. I’m grateful for everything you’ve done.”
Tears filled my eyes as I embraced him. Then he revealed something that left me speechless.
“I bought a house near the ocean,” he said. “It’s for you and Dad. You’ve given me everything. Now it’s my turn to give something back.”
For the first time in nearly thirty years, I felt the burden of the past dissolve. Tommy had walked away from his son, but I had gained one. And in Michael’s eyes, I saw the truth: I was not just his aunt, but his mother in every way that mattered.
