Chapter 3 Shoes
"Do I not see her as my mom anymore?!" Jack exclaimed aloud, his voice echoing in the empty room. He sat confused, staring at the wall as if it held the answers to his existential crisis.
His mind raced, replaying memories of his childhood, his family, and the woman he had always called "Mom." But now, something felt off. The bond he once felt with her seemed distant, almost foreign.
Was it because of the changes and the information he learned about himself and his family? Or was it something deeper, something he couldn't quite put his finger on?
He glanced down at his little brother, pulled open his pajamas, and froze.
There it was—standing at its full length of three inches. A lump formed in his throat as he gulped, his eyes locked onto his pitiful family jewel.
It was a sight that had haunted him for years, a source of insecurity that had shaped his interactions with others, especially women.
Memories flooded back—specifically, the day he had revealed it to his girlfriend in the past. She had stifled a laugh, her face turning red as she tried to hide her amusement.
She had refused to continue blowing him, and the moment had shattered his confidence. That moment was supposed to be his reward for helping her with all her assignments and homework in school.
Not only that, he had tutored her in class, picked her up from her home, dropped her off after school, and even paid for all their expenses—snacks, lunches, dinners, and dates.
He had given her everything, and yet, she had laughed at him.
Now, years later, Jack realized she had probably just been using him all along. The thought made his stomach churn. He had been so blind, so desperate for love and validation that he had ignored the signs.