Bittersweet Obsession
Chapter 12: A Big Fight

Tamara and her mother shared quick looks that showed their relief that Brianna was safe and sound. It was a simple, unspoken assurance that made the room feel warmer and took away some of the fears that had been lingering around. Despite her weakened state, Amber made a determined effort to greet her youngest daughter. Each step seemed to require an immense amount of effort as she slowly hobbled to check on Brianna.

"Sweetheart, you're coming home late again," she said.

Brianna responded with an indifferent shrug and replied, "Yeah, Mom. Just had some stuff to take care of."

Unable to resist her concern, Tamara rose from her seat to give her mother with some much-needed support. She knew that her mother, weakened by illness, needed her support not just emotionally but physically too. With a soft smile, she walked up to her mother and offered her arm, quietly showing that she would always be there for her family when they needed her.

But before Tamara could say anything, Brianna's sharp, frustrated words cut through the air. She could no longer take any more lessons or warnings as she said sternly, "Don't start, Tamara. I've heard enough of your lectures for one day." Tamara couldn't help but roll her eyes in frustration before giving a retort with a harsh tone. "Seriously, Brianna? Why do you have such a negative opinion of me? What have I done to make you resent me this much?" Her words carried the weight of the strained relationship between the sisters, a relationship that seemed to grow more distant with each passing day.

"Oh, please, Tamara! Spare me the guilt trip. I've got my own problems to deal with, and I don't need you playing the martyr."

Tamara felt angry and hurt when she felt misunderstood by Brianna. She snapped back, her voice laced with frustration, "You know what? You're so quick to jump to conclusions, Brianna! I was just trying to help Mom walk, not lecture you. But if you can't see that, fine!"

"Whatever. Just leave me alone!"

With that, she turned away and was about to leave the room, the tension between them hanging heavy in the air.

Tamara couldn't hold back her frustration any longer. She leveled a harsh word at Brianna, considering her mother's concern for her. "You're so damn selfish, Brianna! Can't you see that our mother is worried sick about you? You're always coming home late and never lend a hand with the daily chores, while I have to toil away outside just to make ends meet."

All the pent-up frustration that had been simmering beneath the surface for a while finally erupted like a volcano. It was as if a dam had burst, releasing a torrent of emotions that Tamara had kept bottled up. She was tired, annoyed, and overwhelmed, and it all came pouring out in a fiery burst of emotion.

Brianna shot back with a harsh response, "You're such a drama queen! Always making everything about you."

Amber, though weakened and frail, intervened in an attempt to alleviate the tension between her daughters. With a gentle but tired voice, she implored, "Please, girls, let's not fight. We have enough troubles as it is. We need to stick together." "Mom, it seems like you always take her side and have a soft spot for her. She gets away with everything, and I'm the one who gets scolded all the time."

Amber sighed, feeling the weight of her daughters' emotions and her own limitations. She replied with a weary tone, "I don't play favorites, sweetheart. I just worry about both of you in different ways. You're both important to me." Brianna rejected her mother's words and replied with a hurtful remark, "Maybe I'm not even your real daughter if you're always taking her side." Her words cut deep, casting a shadow over the already strained family atmosphere. Amber's eyes welled up with tears, and she answered in a soft, defeated voice, "Sweetheart, you know that's not true. You're my daughter, and I love you both equally."

"Seriously, Brianna? You shouldn't talk to Mom that way! You've upset her again," Tamara retorted.

"Oh, please, Tamara. You're always playing the saint, coming to Mom's rescue. I'm tired of it."

Before Brianna turned away and headed to her room, Tamara spoke decisively to her, "Brianna, if you have any issues or grudges against Mom or me, let's talk about it. Keeping things bottled up won't solve anything." "I don't want to talk about it. I'm tired and sleepy now. Just leave me alone, okay?"

Then, she stormed out of the room with a heavy sigh, her steps slow and her shoulders slouched. She seemed to be overwhelmed by her own feelings as she went to her room and shut the door loudly behind her. The atmosphere in the apartment remained tense, with unresolved issues hanging in the air like a heavy cloud.

Tamara and Amber exchanged concerned glances as they watched Brianna leave for her room. Both of them felt the weight of the strained relationship within their family. It was clear that it wouldn't be easy for them to get along again. Tamara let out a heavy sigh and moved closer to her mother, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder. With a gentle smile, she said, "Don't worry, Mom. We'll figure things out with her. It's just a rough patch, and we'll get through it together." She reached her arm to offer support to her mother, gently guiding her back to the bedroom.

Now lying in her bed, Amber looked up at her eldest daughter with gratitude in her eyes. She reached her hand and softly spoke, "Thank you, sweetheart. You're always there when I need you the most. I'm proud of the kind and caring person you've become."

Tamara smiled warmly at her mother and replied, "Mom, we'll work things out with Brianna, don't worry. Right now, just focus on getting some rest and feeling better. I'll handle everything here." Amber's eyes welled up with tears of both gratitude and concern for her daughters. She nodded and replied, "Sweetheart, you know what she said earlier was not true. I love you both so much." Touched by her mother's words, Tamara gently squeezed her hand and said, "I know, Mom. Just have some rest now, and we'll talk to Brianna when she's ready."

Amber nodded and smiled weakly through her tears.

"By the way, Mom, tomorrow I have an early morning class at the campus. But I'll make sure to prepare some breakfast for you before I leave. And please, don't forget to take your medicine on time."

"It's alright, sweetheart. Don't worry about me. You focus on your studies, and I'll be fine. You're doing so well, and I'm proud of you."

"Why wouldn't I worry about you, Mom? You mean the world to me, especially since Dad passed away. I love you more than anything."

"Oh, that's not true, sweetheart. I know you have Henry, your boyfriend, and you probably love him deeply. That's completely natural. But a mother's love is different, and it will always be here for you, no matter what." "Please don't say that, Mom. My love for you is beyond comparison, even more than what I feel for Henry."

Amber shook her head feebly.

"I know, Mom. I know you don't like Henry."

"No, sweetheart, I don't have any issues with Henry, truly. If he's the man you want to spend your life with in the future, what more could I wish for? It would bring me peace to know that you'll have someone to love and care for you when I die."

"Enough, Mom. I don't like it when you talk about death. I believe you'll get better." She hugged and kissed her mother on the cheek.

Tamara gently interrupted, saying, "Enough, Mom. Let's not talk about that. I don't like it when you talk about death. I truly believe you'll recover and get better." She then embraced her mother in a warm hug and planted a loving kiss on her cheek.

After a moment of silence, she gazed at her mother with a heartbreaking expression and continued, "Well, speaking of Henry, he was actually..."

Amber raised an inquisitive eyebrow and responded, "Yes, sweetheart? What about Henry?"

With a deep breath, Tamara started to explain, "You see, Mom, there's something important I need to tell you. I didn't have a chance to tell you about this. Henry was involved in a very severe accident not too long ago, and I'm really sorry to say this, but he didn't make it. He passed away."

Amber's eyes widened in shock, and she clutched the blanket tightly. She stammered, "Oh, my goodness... I can't believe it. Henry... he's gone?"

Tears welled up in Tamara's eyes as she nodded, her voice filled with sorrow. "Yes, Mom. It's so hard to believe, but he's gone. It's been really tough for me lately."

Amber's face turned pale, and she reached out to hold Tamara's hand, her voice trembling as she said, "Oh, my dear, I'm so sorry to hear that. Losing someone you love is incredibly painful. You must be going through such a difficult time." Tamara squeezed her mother's hand and whispered, "It's been a nightmare, but I'm trying to stay strong for you and Brianna."

"We will, sweetheart. We have each other, and that's what matters most." Amber nodded, her eyes filled with tears as she continued, "You know, I don't have any grudge against him, but it's just..."

Tamara wiped away a tear that had escaped from her eye and looked at her mother with a curious expression. "But what, Mom? Is there something you want to share about Henry?"

"Well, my objection was mainly because Henry came from the most influential and respectable Beauregard family. There's such a huge gap between our backgrounds, sweetheart. I was worried about whether you'd be happy in that world, and I feared you might feel overwhelmed or out of place."

"I understand, Mom. But that was all in the past. And now, we have a long time ahead of us to focus on getting you better and ensuring our family's well-being."

After Tamara left her room, Amber couldn't hold back the tears that welled up in her eyes. She had an unshakable feeling that her time on this earth was growing shorter with each passing day.

As the night grew darker, Amber lay in her bed, pondering the uncertainties of her health. She couldn't help but wonder. How can she die in peace knowing that Tamara has been silently carrying the weight of their family's burdens on her shoulders?