Like a rock

My parents always wanted a son. "As soon as I heard your Dad's heavy footsteps on the stairs, I knew it's a girl," my grandma divulged to me during our little bed-time chat. Oh well, too bad, in China, my folks only had one shot at it, and I am what they are stuck with for the rest of their life, the little, fat, ugly, and extremely demanding creature. For the next 20 plus years, I become the center of their everyday life. My parents and my grandma are my rocks.

How many years have passed? My grandma passed away, my dad got sick, and my mom is aging. Since when, my ever strong mother started to ask me to stay at home more often? Since when, my Mom started to ask me to take her to the beach? since when, I needed to make decisions for the family? and since when, I become her rock.

yes, the rock has been passed down to me. I am the son and the daughter of the family. The little, fat, ugly, selfish and bratty girl, you have to grow up now, no matter if you are ready or not, be strong and resolute, like a rock.