Arabella Rivera Mother's eyes saddened considerably. My words got to her, which is exactly what I wanted. I wanted to hurt her like she had done to me for years. Too bad those words I told her wouldn't compare to all the years of emotional pain she and father had made me suffer. "I know you hate me for last night, I understand if you loathe me even."Her sad eyes drop to the table. "I tried my best to raise you into the perfect- That fucking word. "I didn't want to be! I never wanted to be perfect." I hissed, my fist tightening until I feared my nails had scraped the skin of my palm. My gaze pinned her with a nasty stare that made her flinch. "And mother you seem to have forgotten that you weren't the one who raised me. You were too busy nurturing your materials than nurturing me. Gertrude did that job for you. Just like she has always done with cleaning up your mess." I spat not caring that I was hurting her. I was tired of feeling hurt alone. Mother and father hurt me and so did the guy I thought I stupidly had a chance with. I needed to vent out my frustrations and hurt and this proves to be the only way. "Arabella-" She started but stops suddenly. One of the employees slides a large ice cream bowl on the table, smiling awkwardly seeming to catch some words of mother and I's argument. Was it an argument? I didn't really care at this point. The employee walks away, seeming to be awkward with being in our presence. We're quiet again. I stare at the ice cream bowl, my mouth watering upon seeing so many flavors fit into one bowl. I couldn't remember the last time I tasted ice cream. The memory was so foggy that I couldn't reminisce the tender age I had been then. "It was never my intention to make you feel this way Arabella. I just wanted you to have the life I never got to have growing up." Hearing her soft words made my eyes lift from the bowl to settle on her frowning face. Her eyes were still glued to the table. They gleamed as if recalling a memory she tried locking away. "I wasn't born into wealth, I wasn't born into the perfect family." Her eyes lift from the table and they captured mine. They gleamed with unshed tears that shockingly moved me. "You want to know why you never got to know your grandparents?" She swallowed as if tasting something bitter."They left me. When they were fed up with feeding another mouth. They left me all alone. I was on the streets most of my teenage years, looking through a glass store with pretty dresses I wished I could afford. I would listen to expensive shoes hitting the pavement and wished I could make that sound too." "When the cold brutal wind would come suddenly, I'd run into an alley and hide behind a dumpster and dream of a perfect life." She lets out a shaky breath that made my heart throb. "But my perfect life was slipping away. I had no money when reality hit me. I had no roof over my head or a bed to keep me warm. I was in the dark, on the street that smelled of rotten food. Then one day, I met your father. He looked perfect, just like the picture I painted in my head. We were stupid kids and I got pregnant with you." She whispered, a smile cracking on her face. "Something I wouldn't change for the world." Then her smile slipped. "Your father came from a wealthy family and when they heard of my pregnancy they were disgusted to find out he impregnated someone lower than his standards. But they didn't want to look bad in the public eye. They made us marry before my belly showed and made me finish my schooling, even paid for my college all the while hiring Gertrude to help with raising you." She lets out a dry laugh that sounded funny. "Finally my perfect life was falling into place. I had my bachelor's degree, a wealthy and handsome husband, a beautiful daughter. A roof over my head, warm blankets and hot water to relax me after a stressful day. I had the perfect family. The perfect life even." "Was it so bad that I wanted those things forever? That I'd do anything to keep it so perfect? A dream that had looked so far out of my reach was now right in front of me. Was it so bad that I didn't want you to struggle the way I did?" Her teary eyes penetrated me across the table. "I never meant to make you resent me over the years Arabella- I just-" She sniffs. "I never resented you mother, " I admitted, my voice stuffy with emotion. Her story moved me so much that I had now begun to view her in a different light. " I just didn't want to be perfect." I whispered. She nods, tears slipping from her eyes to trail down her cheek. " Last night after I slapped you, was the worst night of my life." She admits sniffling. "Grooming myself to be so perfect over the years made me turn a blind eye to the monster I had become- I reached over the table and shocked us both by placing my hand on top of hers. I squeezed them and realized this was the first time I ever willingly tried to show her affection. It was new to me and sort of weird, in a good way I suppose. "You're not a monster mother. You could never be." She smiles softly, a pleased look carving her once saddened face. "Just try to not be too tough on me anymore?" I joked, hoping to ease the tension in the air.How the tides have changed and I was the one now comforting her. Mother's smile widened as she lets out a joyous laugh. "No promises." She joked. Her eyes fell on the ice cream and lit with excitement. "Can't remember the last time I tasted this. Is it still so sweet?" I shrugged. "Can't help you on that one, I too haven't tasted it in a long while." I admitted, pulling my hands off hers. "I think the last time was when I was the shape of a plum." She giggled. "I think it was the culprit in adding to my weight." "We should probably taste it before it melts." I licked my bottom lip. Mother's hands quickly reach out for the plastic spoon the employee left on the side of the bowl. She digs into the pink creamy delight. "Yes we probably should." The eagerness in her voice didn't go unnoticed. It made me smile, knowing that finally, I understood at least some parts of her. I pick up my own plastic spoon and dug it into the creaminess of the cold dessert and pushed it into my mouth. It melts on my tongue and my taste buds started dancing. It had been so long that I had forgotten how good it tasted. And for the first time today, I smiled. A real one at least, one that lit my face and made mother pleased with my change of mood.