His eyes lit up, but he masked it quickly with a look of concern. “Of course, Mom,” Daniel replied, placing a comforting hand on my shoulder. “We just want what’s best for you.”
I nodded slowly, pretending to be relieved by his feigned kindness. Little did they know that the days of me being their pushover were over. I’d become an actress in this farce, and my role was to convince them that I was losing my grip on reality.
“Let’s set up a meeting with a lawyer,” Paula interjected, her voice dripping with false empathy. “We want to make sure everything is in order, just in case.”
I agreed, feigning a vulnerable gratitude. “Thank you, dear. I do get so confused these days.”
Days turned into weeks as I documented every slight, every cruel word whispered when they thought I wasn’t listening. I started carrying a small voice recorder, tucking it into my cardigan pocket. I recorded their conversations, their plans to diminish my role in the family and relieve me of my assets.
