The Truth

As I read the contents of the letter, I was aware of the smile on my face. I was ecstatic, I mean after all these years of searching and rejection; from almost a hundred different people with the last name Hunter, my mother had finally reached out to me!
At 26, I’ve lived a life that requires an age way beyond my years. Despite, being in the face of adversity everyday of my life, I always prevailed. Like me having my son at 11, by a 16 year old boy named London, who I thought I was in love with.
You see being a foster child and being moved from home to home all my life, gave me the need to always search and desire someone that could possibly be permanent. Yet, because I was searching in all the wrong places, no one ever stayed for long. I used to get depressed at the thought that my parents abandoned me, literally, ever since I cried into this world. It hurt, but those thoughts and my depression, I couldn’t allow them to keep my life at a standstill. Someone once told me that the only constant in life was change. I knew then that, I had to keep it moving…the moving stopped when I was 17.
I became a success all by myself and from the motivation to do better for my son. My son, Sean, and I ended up living in shelters until I was able to get a job and get us a little studio apartment which we stayed in for 5 years while I attended Columbia University and attained a B.A. in English. Now, I am currently working on achieving my Masters in Communications and African American Studies. All alone I did these things when I was constantly set up to fail. Of course, through the good, the bad, and the ugly, my bitterness towards the life I was given had faded away. Most people may wallow in self-pity and hate. I obviously felt and did the opposite. I firmly believe and stand by what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.
My mother, Sandra Hunter, simply says in the letter:
Dear Tiffany,
My Name is Sandra Hunter. I am your biological mother. I know you may be confused as to why I am FINALLY reaching out to you. Basically, I love you and despite what you may think. And I can explain and tell you everything you need to know. Please write back, if you get this.
Your mother,
Sandra Hunter
Yes, I felt like more could have been said, but I still held more meaning and purpose then anyone would ever know.
“Ma, why are you smiling? What is that?” Sean asks, as he walks up behind me to get a glance at the letter. Tears of joy started to roll down my face.
“It’s a letter, from my mother.” Sean didn’t respond. I looked up at him and he had a look of absolute shock.
“Your mother?” His features then turned to a scowl. His body language got tense.
“Yes” I said nodding my head. Sean turned and walked out the room. He was upset. Especially, because he was apart of my struggle all his life, and he hated the grandparents he never knew for putting me through it. I was angry deep down, but happiness eliminated that emotion for now. Sean was too young to see it my way. I saw this letter as one step close to the closure. One step closer to the truth.