My Mother's Grand Deception

My mom always said she loved me, but her 'love' came with strings.

"Do you think I'd be this exhausted if it weren't for you?"

"If you don't study hard, how can you face me?"

"Everything I do is for *your own good*."

She forced me to choose the humanities track, even though I hated it.

Before college started, she hid my acceptance letter to my dream university, pushing me instead toward a local state college closer to home.

Even after I went to college, she rented an apartment nearby, just to keep an eye on me.

Later, I fell in love, finally feeling a glimmer of hope.