Did this woman just say no?
"Huh?" I voiced, confused at her statement.
"You heard me Aria, you are not going back." She stated confidently as she took a bite from her steak.
"Mother you must be kidding, you can't tell me you want me to stay behind and do what here?" I said, pushing my plate away from me as I wanted to pay attention to this woman called my mother.
"I don't give a care, find another job close by and do something else. You aren't going back there that's for certain."
"Mother, I am going back, I get that you are angry and that this type of change came as a shock but please remember this is something I've been doing for years. This is important to me." I pleaded
"You are my only daughter and honestly I have no issue with you chasing your dreams." She said
"But?"
"But I have a problem with the protocols there, you come back home smaller than before, which I was sure was for a role, which is unhealthy. You guys barely get sleep and don't deny it young lady because when you returned home, I could see the bags. You guys only get a month off in a year. Is that normal?" she snapped, suddenly dropping her utensils.
"Mother though it's worth it."
"I don't want to hear it!" she snapped, slightly banging the table which caused a few people to turn their attention to us.
We kept quiet for a few seconds, allowing silence to settle in and be comfortable between us. I didn't want to make a comment because I knew that she knew that I would not stay home.
My mother and I didn't see eye to eye when it came to my job and I understood why. At times the schedule that we had wasn't healthy and the things we were required to do to get into a role was extremely hectic.
But if you truly loved what you did, it sometimes wouldn't matter what you had to do. Each actor and actress went through their own challenge and sometimes it was worth complaining about. Other times, we knew what we were doing.
It was the passion and the love for the adrenaline that pushed us and sometimes the lesson of the story was impactful enough for us to disregard certain instructions that we wouldn't be comfortable with.
So, I understood why my mother wasn't happy, her child lost a lot of weight, had eyebags and had to return to the same environment that made her become this way. I would probably do the same thing if I was a mother and I had no understanding of what was taking place.
"I understand," I whispered as I placed a hand over hers.
"Then why do you want to go back?" she croaked as she looked up to me, tears brimming in her eyes as she watched me.
"Because I love what I do. I get to impact and tell a story that I know will matter to so many people. I get to dance and sing. I get to act and not constantly do it in your face by pranking you." I teased
"Cecilia may be a devil's spawn sometimes," I admitted
"More like all the time." She murmured
I laughed, "Yes, all the time but she writes stories that make me see things differently. Her stories are meant to help the lost whether man or woman, to see the depth and change. I get the honor to perform it and use my body to represent it." I reassured.
"But when does the body that I pushed out get to represent my story. A story where I raised you and I take pride that you are my daughter." She said
"Mom, aren't you proud that the rest of the world can see it?" I asked
"Well, obviously I am but-"
"But nothing. Take pride mother that I get to represent you everywhere I go. I bear your last name. I bear your image. I bear your principles and no matter what it will never change."
"You promise?"
"Pinky promise," I said as I raised my pinky to her and felt her pinky lock with mine.
"I love you mom and I promise I would do anything for you," I stated.
"Same daughter, same." She murmured. "Now can I eat?"
"Oh wow mother, wow."
"Hey, you're the one who decided to interrupt my eating, if my food is cold I'm going to ask the waiter to get it warmed up."
"It's not his fault that you decided to take your time."
"Do you want to pay for cold food?"
"Obviously not."
"Then don't complain." She stated as she rolled her eyes.