Before they left for Europe, I turned to my mother and father angrily and said, “How can you just leave us in the lurch like this? After everything, I thought family always came first!” Those words echoed in the silent kitchen, mingling with the sound
of the ticking clock and the distant hum of evening traffic. I never imagined that this conversation would mark the beginning of a long, winding journey—a journey through betrayal, heartache, and, ultimately, the painful process of understanding.