Dear Mom

My flatmate’s mom came over to stay with her a few months ago. We’re not actually allowed to have visitors stay longer for more than a few days and although I am tempted to tell the landlord about this because she makes a terrible mess out of the kitchen and bathroom, I don’t. Mostly because I miss my own mom.

She cooks meals for her daughter everyday: wakes up very early in the morning to cook her breakfast. She is actually my only competition when it comes to the kitchen. Before she came over, I pretty much dominated the kitchen for most of the day. Not because I’m a master chef but because I spend centuries trying to cook. But ever since she came, I’ve had to cut down and delay my kitchen time because the kitchen is too small for the both of us.

My mom used to cook meals for me too. She would wake up an hour earlier than me just to cook me breakfast and then scold me afterward because I never finish everything on my plate, saying she would never cook breakfast for me ever again. But she does the same thing the next day.

I hear them laugh together and talk in their own language. They’re from mainland China and she’s her only child. She told me she came over because she misses her daughter so much. I think about the last time I laughed with my mom and I miss her more. We don’t have a very close relationship and we used to fight a lot. But I know in her own way, she tried to express her love the best way she can.

I miss you mom. I’m okay, I’m finally settling in I think. I finish everything on my plate now and I’ve never set the kitchen on fire. I’m writing this because life is too short and the distance between us is too great but I hope you know that I love you more than both of them combined.