Liam’s POV: The Truth I Never Knew

The door creaked open, and my mother stepped inside. She hesitated, her eyes full of something I couldn’t place—guilt? Fear? Pain? Maybe all three.

“Liam,” she whispered, taking a cautious step toward me.

I backed away immediately. “Don’t.” My voice was sharp, shaking. “Don’t come closer.”

She stopped, swallowing hard. “I just want to talk—”

“Talk?” I laughed bitterly. “Now you want to talk? Where were you all these years? Where were you every time he hurt me? Every time he made me feel like I was nothing? You just stood there, watching, doing nothing! You always hid behind him, like a coward.”

Her lips parted as if she wanted to argue, but she didn’t. She just stood there, silent, looking at me with eyes that screamed regret.

“You’re weak,” I spat. “I don’t hate you, but I can’t love you either. I can’t even see you as my mother.”

Tears welled up in her eyes. “I tried—”

“No, you didn’t!” I cut her off. My body was trembling, my hands clenched into fists. “If you had tried, I wouldn’t be so afraid of him. If you had tried, I wouldn’t have to fight for myself every single day. If you had tried, I wouldn’t feel so alone!”

Her whole body shuddered at my words, and then—she collapsed.

My breath caught.

“Mom?” I whispered, frozen.

She didn’t move.

Panic surged through me, and I rushed forward, shaking her lightly. “Mom! Mom, wake up!” My hands trembled as I touched her face—cold, too cold.

No. No. No.

“Dad!” I screamed, my voice echoing through the house. “Dad! Come quick!”

No response.

Where was he? Where had he gone?

I turned back to my mother. Her chest wasn’t rising. She wasn’t breathing.

Oh my God.

My fingers fumbled as I grabbed my phone, my entire body shaking. I dialed the emergency number, barely able to press the buttons.

The call connected. “911, what’s your emergency?”

“My—my mom—she collapsed! She’s not breathing! Please, send help! Please!” My voice was frantic. I could barely get the words out.

“Stay calm, sir,” the operator said. “Help is on the way.”

Calm? How could I be calm?

I dropped the phone and kneeled beside her, holding her hand. It was limp in mine.

Tears burned my eyes as I whispered, “Please don’t die, Mom. Please.”

I didn’t realize I was crying until I felt the wetness on my cheeks.

Minutes felt like hours, but finally, I heard the sound of sirens outside. The front door burst open, and paramedics rushed in.

They worked fast, checking her vitals, pressing on her chest, trying to bring her back.

“Is she okay?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

One of the paramedics glanced at me, his expression grim. “She has a pulse, but it’s weak. We need to get her to the hospital now.”

I nodded quickly. “I’m coming with you.”

They didn’t argue. I climbed into the ambulance beside her, my hands clenched into fists as I watched them work.

I had never been so scared in my life.

The ride felt like forever. My mind kept flashing back to every moment I had with her—both good and bad. The times she comforted me when I was little. The times she looked away when my father yelled at me. The times she should have stood up for me but didn’t.

And now… she was slipping away.

When we reached the hospital, they rushed her inside, leaving me alone in the waiting room.

I paced back and forth, my heart pounding.

Where was my father? Did he even care?

A doctor finally approached me, his face unreadable.

“You’re her son?”

“Yes,” I said quickly. “Is she okay?”

He sighed. “We managed to stabilize her for now. But…” He hesitated.

My stomach dropped. “But what?”

His eyes met mine, serious, almost regretful. “Your mother has cancer, Liam. And it’s in the final stage.”

I felt the words hit me like a punch.

Cancer?

No. That couldn’t be right.

“What… what do you mean?” I choked out. “She never said anything.”

The doctor sighed. “She probably didn’t want to worry you. But the truth is, there’s nothing more we can do for her. The cancer has spread too far. The only thing we can do now is make her comfortable.”

My legs gave out, and I collapsed onto the chair behind me.

This couldn’t be happening.

“She needs to be moved to a hospice,” the doctor continued gently. “She doesn’t have much time left.”

My chest tightened.

How could I have been so angry at her? How could I have said those things?

I wiped my face roughly, trying to hold back the emotions threatening to swallow me whole.

I needed to see her.

“Can I see her?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

The doctor nodded. “Of course. Follow me.”

I forced myself to stand, my legs unsteady, and followed him down the hallway.

The room was quiet, the beeping of machines the only sound.

She lay there, pale and fragile, so different from the woman I had yelled at just an hour ago.

Guilt clawed at me.

I walked over slowly, sinking into the chair beside her bed.

Her eyes fluttered open, and for a moment, she just stared at me.

Then, she gave me a weak smile. “Liam…”

Tears welled up in my eyes again. “I’m here, Mom,” I whispered, grabbing her hand. “I’m here.”

She squeezed my fingers lightly, her touch weak. “I’m sorry,” she murmured.

I shook my head quickly. “No. I’m the one who should be sorry. I was so angry. I said awful things.”

A small, tired smile crossed her lips. “It’s okay, baby. I understand.”

I bit my lip, trying to hold in the sob threatening to escape. “I don’t want you to go.”

Her eyes softened. “I don’t want to go either. But it’s my time.”

I shook my head violently. “No. It’s not. We can find a way to fix this. There has to be a way.”

She squeezed my hand again. “Liam, listen to me.”

I swallowed hard, forcing myself to meet her eyes.

“Live your life,” she whispered. “Be happy. Don’t let anyone tell you who you are.”

I nodded, even though my heart was shattering.

She gave me one last, tired smile. “I love you.”

Tears streamed down my face. “I love you too, Mom.”

Her eyes closed.

And the beeping of the machine slowed.

I held my breath.

Then—

A flatline.

“No,” I whispered, shaking my head. “No, no, no, no.”

The doctors rushed in. I was pulled away. Someone was talking, but I couldn’t hear them.

All I could hear was the silence.

She was gone.

And my world would never be the same again.