Bittersweet Obsession

"Tamara!" Brianna's voice echoed from outside the room. "Have you seen my pink dress? I can't find it anywhere!"

"I've told you a hundred times where your pink dress is. It's in the closet, on the second shelf from the top, right side. You'll find it there!" Tamara replied in irritation.

"Why do you always hide my things? It's like you enjoy making my life difficult!" Brianna huffed, even more upset than before.

Tamara walked over to the door as her patience was wearing thin. She shot back in irritation, "I don't have time for your games right now! I've got a lot on my plate, taking care of Mom and trying to make ends meet. If you can't find your dress, that's not my problem!"

She wasn't about to let Brianna off the hook easily. She pointed at the laundry basket and said firmly, "And while you're at it, why don't you learn to do your own laundry? I can't keep doing everything for you. You're old enough to take care of your own stuff."

Brianna scowled in annoyance and muttered under her breath, "Whatever, bossy!"

She went back to her room in a huff, her feet pounding with anger. In her room, she quickly got ready for school before leaving for the day.

When she was ready, she came out of her room quickly. She had her bag on one arm and took a quick look at herself in the hallway mirror. As she got ready for the day, she seemed to be in a hurry and very focused.

Tamara gave her sister a stern look before turning back to her mother, who was quietly observing the exchange between the sisters with a disbelief look on her face.

Amber shook her head slightly, her eyes pleading with Tamara to give way to her sister.

"Brianna, come over here!" Amber looked concerned, but also a little worn out from being sick for so long. In her eyes, she wanted her daughters to get along and spend time together, even though they argued with each other sometimes. When Tamara and Brianna came closer, Amber said in a soft, reassuring tone, "Girls, let's not bicker. My life will end quickly if I see you two arguing."

"Well, if she hadn't hidden my dress in the first place, I wouldn't have to keep asking," Brianna retorted in an indignant tone.

"And if you could do your own laundry for once, you wouldn't be so dependent on my help!" Tamara fired back.Original content from NôvelDrama.Org.

Amber intervened, her voice soothing, "Shh! Alright, alright, girls. Let's not argue today. We have enough on our plates already."

Her words held a gentle authority that came from years of taking care of their home and figuring out how to deal with the complexities of her illness. As she spoke, there was a subtle fragility in her voice, a reminder that despite her efforts to keep the family together, she was facing a challenging battle with her health.

With a soft, weary smile, Amber spoke gently, "Girls, you know I haven't been well for a long time. The doctors have told me that I may not have many years left. I want the time we have together to be filled with love and happy memories, not arguments and discord."

"Mom," Tamara whispered, her voice trembling with emotion. Her eyes welled up with tears, and she reached out to grasp her mother's frail hand. Brianna felt a lump in her throat. She lowered her gaze, unable to meet her mother's eyes, and mumbled, "Yeah, Mom, I understand." Her feigned remorse couldn't hide the indifference she held deep down, revealing her lack of genuine concern for her mother. Amber looked at Brianna with a gentle, pleading expression. She could see the tension between her daughters and the pain it caused her.

In a soft, weary tone, she said, "Brianna, my sweet girl, I know things haven't been easy for any of us. But please, for my sake, try to be more understanding and supportive of each other. We're family, and we need to stick together, especially during these challenging times."

Glancing at her youngest daughter again, she added, "I understand that you want to enjoy your youth, but you also need to focus on your studies and spend more time with your family. It might not be the best idea to go out every night. Education is important, and it's a good way to invest in your future."

Even though her mother said it from her heart, Brianna couldn't let go of the grudge she always held against her eldest sister. She kept a cool, distant attitude as she didn't want to fully accept the situation.

Brianna hesitated for a moment, her gaze shifting between her mother and Tamara. Finally, with a reluctant sigh, she nodded and said impatiently, "Fine, Mom. I'll try."

Though her words sounded somewhat sincere, there was still a hint of resentment in her voice.

Tamara noticed this and couldn't help but roll her eyes in response to Brianna's attitude. However, she chose to remain quiet for the moment.

Amber took a deep breath and said, "Brianna, you may not fully understand the weight of our family's problems because you're still young. Tamara, your sister, has been holding a lot of weight for us. She does everything she can to help us and make sure I get the care I need. During these hard times, we need to respect her work and show each other love and understanding."

Brianna rolled her eyes and replied irritably, "Mom, I get it. But seriously, you don't have to keep comparing me to her all the time. I have my own life and my own problems. I don't need a lecture every morning."

Amber let out a weary sigh at Brianna's response, realizing her mistake of spoiling her too much. "Sweetheart, I'm not trying to compare you to your sister. I just want us all to be there for each other during these difficult times. We all have our own ways of dealing with things but we're a family that should support one another. Let's try to make the most of the time we have together, shall we?"

Brianna nodded nonchalantly, her impatience showing as she glanced at the clock. "Yeah. Is that all for now, Mom? I'm running late and need to hurry."

"Of course, dear. Go on, don't be late. Take care of yourself."

Amber gave a wry smile. As she watched her younger daughter leave without much care for the moment, her smile faded and sadness flickered in her eyes. Tamara reached out and gently took hold of Amber's hands, offering her silent support and encouragement.

With a soft and reassuring smile, Tamara tried to comfort her mom, saying, "We'll get through this, Mom. I promise. Please don't worry too much. I'm sure she will change for the better as the day goes on. We'll make sure things get better around here."

Amber squeezed Tamara's hands and offered a tearful smile. "You're such a blessing, sweetheart. I hope you can be more patient with your sister. We never know how much time I have left, and I just want..."

"Mom, don't ever say that again. I'll do my best. It's just... There are times when my patience runs thin, but I'll keep trying for you."

"Alright, sweetheart. Now, why don't you finish your chores and get ready for the day? You have a busy day coming up, and I don't want to keep you from doing what you need to do."

Tamara leaned in and kissed her cheek affectionately. "Alright, Mom. I'll get everything done, and you take care of yourself. I'll check on you later."

As she left the bedroom, the weight of her responsibilities made her heart feel heavy. The sudden brawl took her off guard, and she couldn't quite figure out why it happened. The friction between her and her sister seemed to come out of nowhere, which made her miserable. Still, she was ready to deal with whatever came her way and make sure her family had what they needed.

Tamara knew that the day ahead would have its share of difficulties. She had a lot of worries and problems that she kept to herself because she knew that her mother was already dealing with her chronic illness. She chose to take on these heavy burdens on her own so that her mother wouldn't have to deal with them.

As she faced the day's challenges, she only believed the old saying that when the going gets tough, the tough get going. When life throws you a curveball, it's the strong people who rise to the challenge. She held on to this mantra like a prized secret, a guiding light in times of trouble.