Chapter 67: Captain Cuddles and Teddy K
Chapter Sixty Seven
**OLIVER WEST**
I’d tried to distract myself with homework, with my phone, with anything that would stop me from hearing Mom’s muffled sobs coming from downstairs after dinner.
But I could still hear them, because despite trying to distract myself, I was listening too hard and each quiet sob made my chest tighten.
This was my mom, a woman who’d always been strong and unconquerable in my eyes.
I gripped my pillow tighter, wanting to go downstairs but just as I thought about it, the crying stopped, and I could hear the sound of approaching footsteps.
A soft knock sounded on my door about a minute later. "Oliver, are you still awake?"
"Come in," I called, quickly wiping my own eyes, and gathered my books in front of me instead.
It was already bad enough that she had been crying; if she found me depressed as well, she might get even sadder, which I didn’t want.
Mom peeked her head in first, her face blotchy and swollen. This was honestly the first time I was seeing her looking this weak, or maybe I’d not been paying more attention to her as I should.
She looked older today than she had in the past three years, as though carrying the burden of raising our family single-handedly had finally caught up with her.
I’d already made the decision this afternoon. I will reduce her burden of taking care of me, so I’ll get a part-time job.