However, my mother tricked me, took it all and gave it away without hesitation to my aunt.
My mother had always favored my cousin, Mateo. I had known that since I was a child. My father permitted it though reluctantly, even when she gave the money to my aunt back then.
What was I to this family? Was I just a stepping stone for Mateo?
Well, for my mother, I was nothing but a fool who was dumb and easy to manipulate.
I was her real son, her flesh and blood. Yet, she always chose someone else over me. All they ever left me with were wounds.
Since I did not look where I was going, my foot slipped. The damp hillside was covered in thick, tangled weeds and I was covertly climbing the mountain but accidentally missed my footing and tumbled down the slope.
"Show yourself!"
Since the sound was not small, it startled them. My mother’s face darkened as soon as she saw me.
She immediately cursed me, "You worthless thing! I told you not to come and you still showed up!”
I struggled to my feet. My arm was scraped and bleeding and my face burned where it had been scratched by the rough earth.
I placed a large basket of paper flowers on the ground, each one of them was carefully folded by my own hands.