Unconditional Love Anonymous

The roaring waves crashed against the rocks. The sky was black except for two glowing fluorescent lights in a distance. I stood alone facing the Pacific Ocean and tears slowly trickled down my face but the wind quickly blew them away into the retreating sand.

It was a cold December night on which I had another petty argument with my mother. Earlier, she was on the phone with my grandmother for more than an hour. I anticipated a celebration for the holiday, not a longwinded conversation with my grandmother. My mother sounded quiet concerned. She just never wants to spend any time with me, I thought to myself. Anger trailed behind as I slammed the door and walked out to the beach. After I came back home, my mother gave me a tirade about how I should not go outside alone at night. I should not have fought back, but my tongue could not control my emotions. I was tired of her control over my daily affairs. I talked loudly to assert my independence and bravado. Then, she said, “You are old enough but you still do not know how to make me happy.” Her expression was a mirror that gave an unforgiving reflection of my personality. My cheeks burned as I stood there in silence, quietly recognizing that everything she said was true. My flaws...