Hi!
It's Emma.
That was unexpected!
So, I'm currently back home regularly with Mom, and, imagine my surprise to come downstairs one morning to see Mom introducing Louisa to me.
Yes, that Louisa!
I told her, "I already know. She's the one that did all that stuff with me and Luke."
Mom looked really embarrassed and ashamed with herself for her naivety, "I'm so sorry, Emma. I had no idea who she was."
Louisa chimed in, "I really didn't expect this, I have to say."
Mom quickly stepped in to say to her, "I can't be having you around my daughter I'm afraid, after all you've put her through. No one treats my daughter that way and gets away with it."
Louisa assessed Mom's words, "Is that a threat?"
Mom warned her, "A real mother would do anything for her child, even grown-up."
Louisa folded her arms defensively, admitting, "I have a son. He was taken from me because I was too young when I had him... I really had no choice..."
Mom smirked boldly, "Like I said, 'A real mother would do anything for her child.' You're no mother, so don't pretend you know what it takes; to put someone else's life before your own, to look after them, to provide for them, to sacrifice, to nurture, and continue to do so even when they're old enough to know better. You're irresponsible and selfish, Louisa, and your son is better off without you."
Louisa was overcome with a surge of emotion, showing a vulnerability I'd never seen from her. She was genuinely breaking down in tears before our eyes, falling weak as she loses her strength to stand. After a moment, she settles down enough to say, "You're right... The only thing I have is my body, and I fucking well use it to get me by... I just want to be able to afford to live comfortably, maybe take my son back from the system, and get to know him..."
I just wanted to shut myself off in my room and shut down, but I was compelled to listen to Louisa, and started to feel the swell of sympathy in me, and I hated that.
Mom wasn't buying it, "That's not my problem, and it certainly isn't Emma's, so you can fuck off."
Louisa wiped her face on her sleeve, asking, "I guess our date's off?"