Brave for Once
"Mom, I've been here for a month, and for the first time, someone brought me a nightlight when I was afraid."
Mom's face flushed red.
"What do you mean by telling me these things?"
I took a deep breath. My fingernails dug into my palm, but my voice remained steady.
"What I mean is, you always said I was a useless coward with no prospects. I was cowardly for twenty-three years, and it was only this month that I started to believe in myself."
Mom's lips trembled.
"Stop spouting nonsense! You think you have prospects just because you became a volunteer teacher? You are a girl..."