My daughter said she would take me to live with her to take care of me, and my son-in-law promised to give me ten thousand pesos every month. But exactly one year later, when I overheard what they were saying about me in the kitchen… I realized she was wrong.

Mariana came out of her room with her hair still damp.

“Mom, you woke up early again,” she said, smiling.

I smiled too.

“You know I’m used to it.”

Javier came out shortly after, checking his phone while pouring himself coffee.

The scene looked the same as every day.

No one mentioned the conversation from the night before.

Neither did I.

Two weeks passed.

During that time, I began to do something no one noticed.

I organized my things.

Not all at once. Little by little.

I packed the clothes I didn’t use. I set aside some memories in a small box. I checked my documents, my bank book, my medications.

I also checked the money I had saved.

I still had enough.

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