Her words carried a humility and a sense of growth that I could never have imagined from the old Freda.

“Why do you want to meet?” I asked quietly, waiting for Freda’s next words.

Freda’s voice, though trembling, was calm and sincere, indicating her growth.

“Big sis, I want to apologize from the bottom of my heart. I felt that a phone call wouldn’t sufficiently convey my feelings, so I want to meet you in person to truly and earnestly apologize.”

Her words were earnest. Without interjecting, I quietly listened to her.

“If you feel it’s difficult to meet me, that’s okay too. Your feelings are what matter most to me,” Freda continued.

After a moment of silence, I finally spoke.

“All right. If that’s the case, let’s meet next Saturday at 2 p.m. at the cafe in front of the station.”

“Really? That makes me so happy. Thank you, big sis.”

Relief was evident in Freda’s voice.

After hanging up the phone, I took a deep breath for a while to sort out my emotions. Despite questioning whether the choice I had just made was truly right, I harbored a hope that meeting her might change something.

On the day of our meeting, I arrived at the designated cafe earlier than planned. Upon reaching the cafe, I could feel my heart racing, my chest tightening with a mix of anxiety and anticipation.

As the clock’s hands moved slowly, and just a little past the agreed time, the cafe door opened slowly, and Freda appeared. She looked different, with a simple yet earnest expression. Her face was without makeup, her attire simple, and most notably, her eyes conveyed a resolute change.

She approached my table slowly and began to apologize quietly.

“Big sis, I am truly, truly sorry.”

At that moment, I could physically feel her change and was momentarily unsure how to respond.

“Freda…”

I began, and she continued her words while holding back tears.

“While working at Grandma’s house, for the first time, I realized how much I had relied on you, how much I had taken you for granted. I finally understood how hard it has been for you, always suppressing your own desires to support us, the family.”

Freda, with tears streaming down her face, reflected on her past actions and repeatedly offered heartfelt apologies on the spot. Freda detailed how much she had relied on me in the past and the lessons she learned at our grandmother’s house.

Her story revealed many insights about her relationships with our parents and her self-awareness. I just sat quietly, listening to her words. Each word seemed to dissolve the long-held anger and sadness in my heart.

As her story progressed, I could feel the heavy emotions inside me gradually lighten.

“Thank you, Freda. I’ve fully taken your feelings to heart,” I said.

Afterward, we talked about various topics for several hours. We had an open dialogue about recent events in our lives and the challenges we were facing. This time became a valuable step in rebuilding our relationship.

As we parted, Freda handed me an envelope with gratitude. The envelope contained money she had earned by working hard at our grandmother’s house.

“This is just the beginning, but I will do everything I can,” Freda said.

As I received the envelope, I felt her growth internally, and my heart warmed.

Months later, I visited my grandmother’s house again and met my parents there once more. I was able to receive sincere apologies from them directly and could tell that they had grown just like Freda.

That night, we were able to share a meal together as a family for the first time in a long while, and I truly felt the warmth of family again.

I might not be able to forgive everything immediately, but seeing my family’s efforts to move forward step by step gave me hope for the future.

Before heading home, my grandmother gave me some profound words.

“Sylvia, you have certainly become strong. But as important as that strength is, the kindness you continue to hold, remember that is the most important thing,” she said.

Hugged by my grandmother, I couldn’t hold back my emotions and shed tears. I thought this might be the beginning of a new relationship with my family, and I felt the weight on my heart gradually lighten.

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