“You Left Me, We’re Strangers Now”: Natalie Told Her Mother When She Came Home from Work

Natalie sat on the worn-out couch, her eyes glued to the clock on the wall. It was almost 8 PM, and her mother, Anna, was still not home. The house was eerily quiet, save for the occasional creak of the old wooden floorboards. Natalie sighed, feeling a mix of anger and sadness welling up inside her.

Anna had been working late shifts at the local diner for as long as Natalie could remember. Ever since her husband, Matthew, had walked out on them right after Natalie was born, Anna had been the sole provider. Matthew had promised to stay in touch, to be a part of their daughter’s life, but those promises had quickly faded into nothingness. He had moved to another state, started a new family, and left Anna to pick up the pieces.

Natalie felt a pang of resentment every time she thought about her father. She had grown up without him, and now, at 16, she barely knew him. But it wasn’t just Matthew she was angry with; it was also Anna. Her mother was always working, always tired, always too busy to spend time with her. Natalie felt like she was growing up alone, even though her mother was physically there.

The sound of the front door creaking open snapped Natalie out of her thoughts. Anna walked in, looking exhausted. Her uniform was stained with grease and coffee, and her hair was pulled back in a messy bun. She dropped her bag on the floor and kicked off her shoes, wincing as she did so.

“Hey, sweetie,” Anna said, forcing a smile. “How was your day?”

Natalie didn’t respond. She just stared at her mother, her eyes filled with a mixture of hurt and anger.

Anna sighed and walked over to the couch, sitting down next to her daughter. “I know it’s hard, Natalie. But I’m doing my best.”

“Your best?” Natalie snapped. “You’re never here! You leave me alone every day and night. I feel like I don’t even know you anymore.”

Anna’s face fell. She reached out to touch Natalie’s hand, but Natalie pulled away.

“I have to work, Natalie,” Anna said softly. “I have to provide for us.”

“But at what cost?” Natalie shot back. “You’ve left me alone for so long that we’re strangers now. You left me just like Dad did.”

Anna’s eyes filled with tears. She had always known that raising Natalie alone would be difficult, but she hadn’t realized just how much it would affect their relationship. She wanted to be there for her daughter, to support her and guide her through life, but the reality of their situation made it nearly impossible.

“I’m sorry,” Anna whispered. “I wish things were different.”

Natalie stood up, shaking her head. “Sorry isn’t enough, Mom. I needed you, and you weren’t there.”

With that, Natalie stormed off to her room, slamming the door behind her. Anna sat on the couch, tears streaming down her face. She felt a deep sense of failure and regret. She had tried so hard to provide for her daughter, but in doing so, she had lost the most important thing: their bond.

As the night wore on, Anna sat alone in the living room, replaying Natalie’s words over and over in her mind. She knew that their relationship might never be the same again. The weight of that realization settled heavily on her shoulders.

In the quiet of the night, Anna made a silent promise to herself: she would find a way to be there for Natalie, no matter what it took. But deep down, she feared that it might already be too late.