My mother left me due to my disabilities. She disappeared, leaving only a message. It stated, “I can’t anymore. This burden took away my best years.” I cried for months, but my stepfather helped me find the motivation to keep going. He is the best; he always cared for me and treated me like a princess! Despite everything, I was content because of him. Years have passed. I studied hard and became the city’s most successful lawyer! I had a family and often visited my father’s property. Everything was well until a knock on the door disrupted things. My mother was on the threshold, exactly as I remembered her. I was astonished to discover the reality.
Michelle’s world fell apart when she saw her stepfather collapse on the sofa and begin crying. She had no idea what was going on until she saw he was holding a note in his hand. Michelle was able to collect the piece of paper that had upset her stepfather while navigating her wheelchair between the sofa and the armchair. He tried to remove it from her, but she was still able to read it.
It was her mother’s handwriting. “I can’t do it anymore. You know I never wanted children, but I tried my best to care for Michelle anyway. That burden has taken the best years of my life from me. But now that she’s sixteen, I’ve decided it’s time I pursue my dream of becoming an actress before it’s too late…” Michelle felt great pain as she read these words. It felt like someone had stabbed her in the heart.
With tears streaming down her cheeks, she turned to her stepfather, Eugene, and asked, “And what about you? Am I a burden to you too? It’s not like I’m your real daughter so nobody would blame you if you dumped me somewhere like a dog.”
“Never!” Eugene went over, dropped to one knee, and threw his arms around his stepdaughter.
She hugged him back and began thinking about her life. She didn’t want to be crippled and dependent on others, but that’s what life gave her.
“Look at me, Shelly, and listen close, okay? This is…well, it’s an awful and shocking situation, but you’ve done nothing wrong. It will be tough, but we’ll carry on without her, okay?” Eugene reassured her as she tried to recover from the shock.
Instead of feeling sorry for herself, Michelle vowed herself that she would do whatever it took to succeed. She was resolved to prove her mother incorrect because she was not a burden, but rather a person born with a disability.
Michelle graduated at the top of her class and was accepted to numerous universities, many of which offered her scholarships. She was, nevertheless, determined to pursue a career in movies and aspired to be a successful film producer. But deep inside, she wished to see her mother again, and she even fantasized auditioning for one of the films she would one day create.
Her stepfather was aware that Michelle sought this career because of her mother, but she never admitted it.
Sadly, her college days turned into a nightmare when she got into an argument with a classmate named Lila.
Lila was a popular girl who wanted things her way, and Michelle addressed her multiple times. One time, the two debated whether real film was superior to digital photography.
“I think there are benefits and drawbacks to both. Although there’s a certain look and feel you can only get from physical film, digital allows you a greater range of editing options that might be more suitable for the project you’re filming,” Michelle shared her opinion.
“Only if you’re lazy,” Lila snapped. She didn’t expect the new girl in a wheelchair to challenge her opinion like that. How dare she? “Digital can never beat the authenticity of a movie shot on actual film. It’s just not realistic,” Lila said angrily.
As the discussion heated up, Lila became enraged, and after class, she confronted Michelle and began tormenting her along with her companions.
At one point, they shoved Michelle into the closet and shut off the lights. Two hours later, the janitor discovered Michelle, who was alone and afraid.
The next day, Michelle saw Mr. Abubakar, a lawyer, and told him she intended to sue Lila. Mr. Abubakar listened to Michelle and informed her that she had a case, but Lila came from a wealthy family, so she shouldn’t anticipate anything from the lawsuit. Michelle wanted to go ahead with it nonetheless.
In the coming days, she began reading law books and researching legal procedures and precedents for similar assault cases to hers. She returned to Mr. Abubakar’s office with a folder of notes and a law book she’d borrowed from the college library. He was astounded by the work she accomplished. Everything was meticulously planned, as if Michelle were a true lawyer.
“This is useful.” He smiled at Michelle. “I’d already noted some of these cases, but there are others here that I can reference too.”
“Great.” Michelle grinned. “I was a bit concerned it might be too basic.”
“No, you’ve done a good job here, just like a trained paralegal. Have you been taking classes in law?”
Michelle shook her head. “I just have a knack for research.”
Looking at the work she had done, he told her that she could be a successful lawyer had she studied law.
Michelle frowned. “What do you mean?”
“You have a knack for law. I noticed it while we were putting your case together.” Mr. Abubakar moved closer. “I’ve heard bad stories about the kids that go to the arts section of your college. You don’t belong among cruel people like that, Michelle. You could become a great lawyer and fight against the injustices in this system with me.”
Michelle was intrigued, but not very interested. However, after winning the case against Lila, she was subjected to additional bullying by Lila’s classmates, who harbored a vendetta against Michelle since Lila had been expelled.
She then chose to drop out of film school and pursue a career in law. Before making such a big decision, she spoke with Mr. Abubakar and promised to guide her.
Seven years later, Michelle found herself leaving a large law company to launch her own office. She was really successful, and she even had enough money to have a successful surgery.
One day, she walked to the table after placing her wheelchair in the corner of her office. She was adjusting to walking after spending her entire life in a wheelchair. She changed her look, colored her hair blonde, and removed her glasses. Michelle appeared to be an entirely different person, so much so that her own mother failed to identify her years after she abandoned her.
As she was going through some paperwork, someone knocked on the door of Michelle’s law office. It was a familiar face, her mother Iris.
However, this woman did not appear to be a successful actor, leading Michelle to conclude that she had failed in the film industry.
Just as Michelle thought her mother would recognize her and perhaps repent for abandoning her, Iris asked, “Is it true that you help people for free if they can’t afford to pay you? I don’t have a job and I don’t have any money.” Hearing this, Michelle understood her mother didn’t know her, so she opted not to divulge her true identity.
“I guess I was mistaken.” Iris rose to leave, but Michelle gestured to her to wait.
“No, you’re right. I just…” Michelle hesitated on the verge of confronting the woman but didn’t know how. It was easier to focus on the job.
“I do work pro bono,” Michelle continued. “Please tell me why you need legal help.”
It turned out that Iris drove drunk and crashed into the car of a wealthy businessman who now wanted to throw the book at her.
“Honestly, I don’t think I can get you off entirely, but we can push for a reduced sentence, possibly even community service. I’ll need more details but first, can I offer you something to drink?” Michelle slipped as she returned with their beverages. Iris gripped her elbow and inquired if she was okay, to which Michelle pointed to the wheelchair and said that she was still getting used to walking. Even it wasn’t enough to help Iris recognize the kid she had given birth to.
When the court day arrived, Michelle battled hard and was able to reduce Iris’ sentence to one year in prison or a fine
“I still have no money to pay the fine,” Iris sobbed. “I’ll have to go to jail after all.”
At that moment, Michelle turned to the judge and said, “If the court will permit it, I’d like to pay the fine on my client’s behalf so she can go home immediately.”
“Why would you do this for me?” Iris wrapped her hand around Michelle’s wrist.
“You really don’t recognize me at all?” Michelle tipped her head. “This may refresh your memory.”
She then took out her mother’s message, which described her as a burden. The paper was creased from being read and crumpled countless times over the years, but Iris’ words remained completely legible.
“This can’t be real.” Iris stared at her openmouthed.
“You can keep that, I don’t need it anymore.” Michelle started to pack up her things. “I’m sorry you didn’t get to be an actress after all, but I hope you enjoyed living for yourself.”
“Wait, Michelle. We need to talk.”
“No.” Michelle shook her head. “You didn’t even recognize me, your own daughter. And I know I don’t look exactly the same as the kid you walked out on, but come on!”
“Please, just let me explain.”
Michelle then left the courtroom and never looked back.
