Chapter 4The Martydom Addiction

"Mom, what does that mean?" Sarah threw her bag on the sofa. "You think me writing novels full-time is 'idling'? Am I an eyesore to you?"

Mom didn't expect Sarah to be home. She rubbed her hands together awkwardly and looked at me.

She wanted me to explain for her.

It was always like this. She’d say something passive-aggressive, upset Sarah, and then beg me to smooth things over.

For the sake of family harmony, I usually did.

But today, she went too far.

If my mother-in-law said that about me, I’d be furious too.

"Don't look at me, Mom," I snapped. "Tell Sarah yourself what you meant."

Seeing I wasn't backing her up, Mom stammered.

"Sarah... I didn't mean you're lazy. I just think... since you're home anyway, maybe I should go out and work."

"You can wake up early, make breakfast, take Zoe [my niece] to school, make dinner, and pick Zoe up."

"You'll still have plenty of time to write. It won't interfere."

Silence.

She added nervously, "If you don't want to buy groceries, I can get up earlier, buy them, drop them off, and then go to work."

I glanced at Sarah. Her expression was thunderous.

"Why aren't you speaking?" Mom got anxious. "I'm different from you. I can't be idle. I just want to work."

"Mom, are you serious?" Sarah finally spoke.

Mom thought Sarah was agreeing. She lit up. "Oh, yes! I'm doing this for the family. I've thought it through."

Sarah took a deep breath, picked up her bag, and looked Mom in the eye.

"Fine. Go find a job. I have no objection. But I'm planning to divorce Jason [my brother]. So, whether you want to suffer or enjoy life has nothing to do with me anymore. And you won't need to make snide comments about me 'idling' at home."

Mom froze.

She panicked and grabbed my arm. "Talk to her! I didn't mean that! I just feel insecure without an income! She can't divorce your brother!"

I didn't know if Sarah was bluffing or serious.

I couldn't hold back anymore. "If you didn't mean that, why can't you speak plainly? Why do you have to insinuate that staying home is 'enjoying life'? You say you're idle? Just last week, I heard you complaining to Auntie that your life is so hard, that you have to take Zoe to school and cook and clean, and that your back hurts every night!"

I truly didn't understand.

What goes on in her head?

I thought being blunt would wake her up.

Instead, she sneered. "Right. It's all my fault. If I died, you'd all be happier! Your lives would be so much better without me!"

She started wiping away tears. "I've sinned! I just didn't want to be useless. I wanted to contribute. Why can't any of you understand me? Why do you all blame me?"

Great. Talking to a brick wall.

"Fine," I surrendered. "I won't say anything. Do whatever you want."

Her eyes sparkled. "So the flower planting job..."

Sarah was threatening divorce, and she was still thinking about planting flowers.

I sighed, turned around, and went to my room.