He walked out of the school gate, his mother beside him, his face pale and his eyes red. She walked quietly at first, but as they got farther from the school, she finally spoke, her voice heavy with pain and frustration. She whispered, almost to herself, “What are you going to do now? Do you realize what you’ve done? All the dreams I had for you and Adana, for a future better than mine. Do you understand what you’ve thrown away?” Aken looked at her, his heart sinking at the sight of her tear-streaked face. She had always worked hard, taking on two jobs just to make sure he and his sister could go to the best school, so they would have a chance to live a life she never had. She was a cook during the day and cleaned offices at night, rarely getting more than a few hours of sleep. Her hands were rough. Her back often ached. And yet she smiled every morning as she sent them off to school.
“Mom,” he began softly, but she shook her head, wiping her eyes with the edge of her scarf. “You just threw it all away,” she said, her voice shaking. “One moment of pride, of foolishness, and now you have no school, no future. How could you let something so simple ruin everything? Do you know how many sleepless nights I’ve had to make sure you and Adana had a chance at a good life?” Aken felt a pang of guilt, her words hitting him deeply. But even though he understood her worry, he could not ignore the voice inside him that told him he had done the right thing. He had defended his dignity, his sister, and all the other kids who were too scared to stand up to Nandy. He took a deep breath and looked at his mother, his voice calm but determined. “Mama, I know you are worried, but I didn’t throw anything away. I did what I had to do. All my life I’ve seen you work so hard, day and night, to provide for us. I didn’t want to come home every day knowing I bowed down to someone who was wrong just because she had power. I’m sorry, but I couldn’t do that.”
His mother sighed, pressing her hand to her forehead. “But, Aken, what will you do now without school? What kind of future will you have? You’re throwing away everything, and for what? Just to keep your pride?” He shook his head. “It’s not just pride, Mama. It’s about being true to myself. And it’s not like I don’t have a plan.” He glanced down the road, a small smile appearing on his face. “I’ve been helping Uncle Cha fix cars for years now. You know he taught me a lot, and I’m good at it. I can work with him, and I’ll make enough money to take care of you and Adana. We’ll be okay, Mama. I promise you. We will never suffer.”
His mother’s eyes softened, but she still looked uncertain. She shook her head slowly, her voice a mix of sadness and disbelief. “Fixing cars. It’s hard work. It’s long hours, and there’s no guarantee. I wanted you to have more than that. More than this life I have. Don’t you see that?” Aken reached for her hand, his gaze steady. “Mama, I understand. I know you wanted us to have more. But this is something I know I can do.” She looked down at their joined hands, the strength of her boy’s grip surprising her. He was still so young, barely old enough to know what he was stepping into, yet his words carried a kind of calm she had never heard from him before. A tear rolled down her cheek, and she pulled him into a tight hug. “I can’t blame my son. You are so much like your late father,” she murmured. “Strong, stubborn, and confident. I just hope this path brings you the happiness you’re looking for. But remember, no matter what, you’ll always have me.” He hugged her back, feeling the warmth of her embrace, the love and worry wrapped up in every bit of her heart. “I promise, Mama. I won’t let you down.”