The Ugly Truth
In a little town filled with small churches and quaint shops, lived two sisters, Mara and Lila. Their mother, Ellen, had always been a vibrant woman, full of stories and laughter, but age had taken its toll. Chronic illness had crept in, stealing her vitality and leaving her in a fragile state.
As the months went by, the sisters found themselves on diverging paths in how they cared for their ailing mother. Mara, the oldest sister, devoted herself entirely to Ellen’s care. She meticulously prepared meals, ensured her mother took her medications, and spent countless hours watching
old movies with her, all while maintaining a cheerful facade. Yet, beneath the surface of her unwavering dedication lay a deep-seated guilt that gnawed at her. She always felt responsible for her mother’s happiness, as if it were her duty to fill the void left by time and illness. She believed that by over-catering to her mother, she was somehow making up for the years of perceived neglect when the sisters were raising their own children and didn’t spend much time with Ellen.
In contrast, Lila, the younger sister, had
a different approach. She believed in honesty, even if it was uncomfortable. She would sit with her mother and discuss the realities of life, often bringing up the things Mara would gloss over. “Mom, you can’t keep pretending everything is okay,” she would say, trying to break through the disillusionment that Ellen had created for herself. Lila believed that acknowledging the truth was essential, even if it meant facing difficult conversations. However, her honesty was often met with resistance, not only from Ellen but also from Mara. In her mother’s eyes, Lila became the “uncaring” daughter, the one who dared to challenge her illusions. It didn’t help that her sister enabled her mother by keeping her in her “bubble.”
The tension in the household grew palpable. Mara would often catch herself in the middle of a whirlwind of emotions, torn between her loyalty to her mother and her frustration with Lila’s candor. She would watch as Lila confronted their mother, trying to pull her out of her delusions. “Mom, you need to accept help. You can’t take care of yourself and the house on your own anymore,” Lila insisted one afternoon, her voice firm, yet caring
Ellen, feeling cornered, would lash out, “You don’t understand! I’m fine!” The argument would escalate, with Mara intervening, her heart racing as she tried to soothe both sides. “Mom, we just want what’s best for you,” she would plead, her voice trembling. “Lila, Mom is going through a lot right now. Please stop arguing.”
Mara’s guilt deepened with every fight. She felt responsible for maintaining peace, yet every confrontation seemed to amplify the discord. Whenever Lila spoke her mind, Mara felt her mother’s disappointment wash over her like a heavy fog, as if Lila’s opinions were her fault. She began to question her own motives. Was she really caring for Ellen, or was she simply trying to alleviate her own guilt? The more Mara over-catered to her mother, the more she realized it was becoming a crutch for both of them.
One evening, after another exhausting day of caring for her mother, Mara sat in the living room, staring blankly at the television. The flickering light did little to distract her from the turmoil in her mind. Lila walked in, her expression more serious than usual. “Mara, we need to talk,” she said, her tone measured. “I can’t keep watching you suffocate under this guilt. Mom needs us to be honest with her, not just to cater to her whims.”
Mara felt her heart race, a mix of anger and fear bubbling up. “You don’t understand! If I don’t take care of her, who will? All you do is push her away!” she shot back, defending her position.
“But what are you actually doing for her?” Lila challenged, her voice steady. “You’re enabling her to stay in this bubble. You’re not helping her face the reality of her situation.”
Mara clenched her fists, tears brimming in her eyes. “I’m trying to make her happy! Isn’t that what matters?”
“Is it really happiness if it’s built on lies?” Lila replied. “We’re not doing her any favors by pretending everything is okay.”
The conversation hung heavily in the air, both sisters feeling the weight of their conflicting beliefs. Mara felt as though Lila was attacking her love and dedication, while Lila felt trapped in her sister’s suffocating need to shield their mother from reality.
Weeks turned into months, and the fights became more frequent. Mara found herself caught in a cycle of guilt and frustration, while Lila struggled to convey her concerns without appearing harsh or unloving. Ellen, blissfully unaware of the rift forming between her daughters most days, remained ensconced in her world, where everything was perfect and nothing had changed.
It was during one particularly tumultuous evening that everything came to a head. Ellen had insisted on making dinner, wanting to feel useful, but the effort left her exhausted and in pain. Lila, concerned, tried to step in, only to be met with resistance. “I can do this! I don’t need your help!” Ellen snapped.
Mara, witnessing the exchange, felt her heart race. “Mom, please let Lila help you. You don’t have to do everything alone!” she begged.
“Stop trying to control me! You both think you know what’s best for me, but you don’t have a clue!” Ellen shouted, frustration brewing over.
In that moment, the air was thick with tension. Lila stood her ground, her voice firm yet calm. “Mom, we’re not trying to control you. We just want you to be safe. Living in denial isn’t going to help anyone, least of all you.”
Ellen’s eyes widened in disbelief, and for a brief moment, Mara saw the flicker of realization cross her mother’s face. But it was quickly replaced by anger. “You don’t understand what it’s like to be in my position! I won’t let you take that away from me!”
Mara, feeling the weight of both her mother’s and sister’s emotions, broke down. “I can’t bear the thought of losing you Mom, and Lila, I am stressed out because all we do is argue.” Tears streamed down her face as she vocalized the raw truth of her fears.
In that moment, something shifted. Ellen’s expression softened, and she stepped toward Mara, pulling her into a tight embrace. “I’m not going anywhere, sweetheart,” she whispered, her voice trembling. “I just want to feel like I still have control over my life.”
Lila watched, her heart aching for both women. “We just want you to be happy, Mom. But we can’t pretend anymore. But together we can face anything,” Lila said, stepping forward to join the embrace.
As the three of them stood together, an unspoken understanding began to form. The road ahead would be challenging, but perhaps, together, they could navigate the murky waters of illness, guilt, and truth.
In the days that followed, there were still moments of tension, but they communicated more openly. Mara learned to balance her desire to care for their mother with the need for honesty, while Lila softened her approach, recognizing the love her sister had for their mother. Together, they discovered that while they might have different methods, their ultimate goal was the same: to support Ellen in a way that honored her dignity and to show her love each in their own unique ways.
I hope you enjoyed this flash fiction story. Subscribe for free to read others, and to read the first four chapters of my fantasy novella, “The Realm Ruler” I post 2 chapters a week.