Cara had always resented her mother, Lydia, due to her mother’s frugality and controlling behavior, which overshadowed her childhood. Despite being financially comfortable, Cara’s family life was marred by her mother’s constant obsession with saving money, making Cara feel deprived of the things she wanted, like pocket money or birthday gifts. Her father, Henry, was the one who made her feel loved and special, often sneaking her treats and giving her moments of joy.
But everything changed when her father passed away in an accident, and the rift between mother and daughter deepened. Cara’s resentment grew when she discovered her mother had taken her entire college fund to pay off their mounting debt. That was the breaking point, and Cara moved out, leaving the relationship fractured and cold.
Years later, after her mother’s death, Cara was tasked with sorting through her mother’s belongings. While doing so, she found her mother’s diary and decided to read it, seeking some form of closure. What she discovered shattered her perception of her mother. The diary revealed that Lydia had been silently struggling with a heavy burden—her father had taken business risks that ultimately led to financial ruin, and Lydia had sacrificed everything, including Cara’s future, to protect their home and family.
In the final entries, Lydia expressed deep regret that Cara had never understood the sacrifices she made. She had used the college fund not out of greed, but to prevent them from losing their home. Lydia had quietly borne the weight of this decision, hoping that one day Cara would see it differently.
Cara was overwhelmed with guilt and regret. The mother she had thought of as cold and selfish had actually been doing everything out of love and sacrifice. Despite the years of anger, Cara realized she had never stopped to understand her mother’s struggles, and she was left wishing she had known the truth sooner. The diary, sitting on her bookshelf, became a reminder of all the things left unsaid, and Cara was left to confront her deep feelings of shame for not having understood her mother’s sacrifices when she had the chance.
