He stood at the foot of my bed and smiled at me. He wanted to make sure I was actually dying, so he could perfectly time his escape. He knew my death would distract you, break you down, and give him the perfect window to clean out the rest of your accounts and leave without a fight.

I am dying, my sweet girl. And I am dying with the agonizing knowledge that I cannot save you from what is about to happen. I played his sick game because I couldn’t risk him taking my grandchildren away from you. Please forgive me for not fighting harder.

I have always loved you. Mom. I sat in the silence of my kitchen, the letter slipping from my fingers and fluttering to the floor. Gary hadn’t just abandoned me. He had used my mother’s terminal illness, and her profound love for my children, as a weapon to secure his own exit.

He had effectively tortured a dying woman to protect his stolen money. I am completely destroyed. I am ruined financially, but far worse, my soul is completely fractured. I chose a monster over my own mother, and she spent her final days paying the ultimate price for my ignorance.

I don’t know how I am going to feed my kids tomorrow. I don’t know how I am going to pay the rent. But worst of all, I don’t know how I will ever be able to look at my own reflection again without seeing the woman who let her mother die alone.