Chapter 4 Meeting Mom

Maja's eyes narrowed as she approached the figure watching her from the shadows. She had thought she was finally free from the family's grasp, but now she wasn't so sure. The woman's piercing green eyes seemed to bore into Maja's soul, and her long, curly hair cascaded down her back like a waterfall of night. Maja's heart raced as she realized who it was - her mother, who had abandoned her years ago. "Maja, my dear," her mother said, her voice dripping with sweetness. "I've been waiting for you." Maja's anger and confusion boiled over.

"Waiting for me? You abandoned me! You left me to deal with David's family on my own! How could you do that to me?" Her mother's expression turned cold, her eyes glinting like ice. "I did what I had to do to protect you, Maja. You don't understand the situation." Maja's mind raced as she tried to process her mother's words. Protect her? From what? And why was she here now, after all these years? Maja's thoughts swirled with questions, but she refused to back down. "Protect me?" Maja repeated, her voice rising. "You call leaving me with a family of criminals protection? You call abandoning me to fend for myself protection?" Her mother sighed, her shoulders sagging. "Maja, please listen to me. I know it's hard to understand, but I had no choice. I had to leave to keep you safe." Maja's anger turned to skepticism. "Safe from what? What could be worse than being left alone with David's family?" Her mother hesitated, glancing around the room as if she feared being overheard. "Come with me, Maja. Let me explain everything." Maja hesitated, unsure if she wanted to hear her mother's excuses. But a part of her was curious, and she nodded curtly. "Fine. But make it quick." Her mother led her to a small café nearby, where they sat in a quiet corner. Maja's eyes never left her mother's face as she began to speak. "Maja, you don't know the truth abouT David's family they're not just criminals. They're our enemies and also dangerous " Maja's mind reeled as she tried to process her mother's words. Enemies?

Maja's eyes narrowed, her voice firm. "What do you mean by 'enemies'? What secrets have you been keeping from me?" Her mother hesitated, then began to speak in a hushed tone. "David's family, Maja...they're not just criminals. They're dangerous people who will stop at nothing to get what they want. And I had to leave to protect you from them." Maja's anger flared, her mind racing with questions. "Protect me? By leaving me alone with them? How could you do that to me?" Her mother's expression turned sorrowful. "I know it was hard, Maja. But I had no choice. I had to keep you safe, even if it meant leaving you behind." Maja's thoughts swirled with confusion and hurt. She felt betrayed and abandoned, and she didn't know if she could ever forgive her Mother.

Protect me? You call leaving me with a family of criminals protection? You call abandoning me to fend for myself protection?" Her mother's expression turned defensive, her voice rising. "I did what I had to do, Maja! You don't understand the situation!" Maja's laugh was bitter. "I don't understand? You're the one who's been gone for years, leaving me to deal with David's family on my own. You're the one who's been keeping secrets from me." Her mother's face fell, her eyes filling with tears. "Maja, please listen to me. I know it's hard to understand, but I had to leave to keep you safe. David's family...they're not just dangerous, they're ruthless. They would have hurt you, Maja. They would have destroyed you." Maja's anger faltered, her curiosity piqued. "What do you mean? What did they do?" Her mother hesitated, glancing around the café nervously. "Let's get out of here, Maja. This isn't a conversation for public ears." Maja nodded, following her mother out of the café and into the cool evening air. They walked in silence for a few minutes, finally stopping at a small park. Her mother sat down on a bench, gesturing for Maja to join her. "Maja, David's family. they're involved in some very bad things. Illegal activities, hurting people they're not just criminals, they're monsters. And I had to leave to keep you away from them." Maja's mind raced, trying to process this information. She had always known David's family was trouble, but she had no idea they were involved in such dangerous activities.

Maja's eyes narrowed, her voice firm. "You're telling me that you left me with monsters, and yet you're the one who abandoned me? How could you do that, Mother? How could you leave me behind?" Her mother's face crumpled, tears streaming down her face. "Maja, I know it was wrong. I was so scared, and I didn't know what else to do. I thought I was protecting you, but I realize now that I made a mistake." Maja's anger and hurt boiled over. "A mistake? You call leaving me with a family of criminals a mistake? You call abandoning me for years a mistake?" Her mother nodded, her voice barely above a whisper. "Yes, Maja. I was weak and scared, and I made a mistake. But I'm trying to make it right now. Please, Maja, forgive me." Maja's heart ached, her mind racing with conflicting emotions. She wanted to forgive her mother, to understand her perspective, but she couldn't shake off the feeling of betrayal and abandonment.

Maja's eyes flashed with anger, her voice rising. "Forgive you? You want me to forgive you after what you did? You tried to force me to marry David, and when I refused, you abandoned me to his family's mercy. You left me to deal with their cruelty and manipulation on my own. You didn't even try to protect me, Mother. You didn't stand up for me. You chose to leave me behind, and now you expect me to forgive you?" Her mother's face contorted in pain, her tears falling like rain, but Maja continued, her words pouring out like a torrent. "You didn't just abandon me, Mother. You abandoned me to a family who wanted to control me, who wanted to break me. David's family didn't just want a marriage, they wanted a possession. And you handed me over to them like a sacrifice." Maja's voice cracked, her emotions raw and exposed. "I was so scared, Mother. I was so alone. And you weren't there to protect me. You weren't there to hold my hand or wipe away my tears. You weren't there to tell me that everything would be okay." Her mother's body shook with sobs, but Maja's anger and hurt wouldn't let her stop. "You want forgiveness, Mother? You want me to forget what you did? Forget how you abandoned me? Forget how you failed me?" Maja's voice dropped to a whisper, her eyes blazing with intensity. "I can't forget, Mother. I can't forgive. Not yet. Maybe not ever.

Maja's voice was firm, her eyes still blazing with intensity. "I need space, Mother. I need time to process everything. Your return, your secrets, your abandonment...it's all too much for me to handle right now." Her mother nodded, understanding in her eyes. "I know, Maja. I don't expect forgiveness or understanding right away. I just want a chance to make it right, to explain everything." Maja's expression softened slightly, her voice a little gentler. "I'll listen, Mother. But please, give me some time. I need to think, to figure out what I want and what I'm willing to forgive." Her mother nodded again, tears still streaming down her face. "I'll give you all the time you need, Maja. I promise. Just know that I love you, and I'm here for you, no matter what." Maja's heart ached at her mother's words, a small part of her wanting to believe that her mother truly loved her and was sorry for her mistakes. But a larger part of her was still wary, still hurt and angry.