Mother
Her mother never understood her. Her mother never understood why she preferred Xiangqi over dolls or martial arts over dress up. Never understood why she preferred weapons over fans.
Mulan just didn't understand how her mother could not see her as different from the other girls in the village. It's wasn't like they made an effort to get to know her anyway. Mulan didn't understand why her mother wouldn't let her be herself. Mulan didn't understand why her mother cared so much…until she failed the matchmaker's. The matchmaker had humiliated her completely in front of the whole village. Girls were smirking at her, waiting to burst out their laughter at how much of a failure she was. Elderly men were shaking their heads knowingly. Suitors were looking at her in disgust. Married woman rolled their eyes when her eyes chose to meet theirs. She had failed as a wife, daughter, and an honorable human being. She was probably going to be sent off as a concubine to an elderly man. Mulan bit her lip at the thought and shuddered a bit.
She took a good look at her mother's face. Mulan had never seen that look before. It was new, but of course that didn't mean it was good. It was a look of deep sadness, misery, and disappointment. Her mother looked like she was on the verge of crying. Mulan's heart began to feel heavy. A lump began to form in her throat. Did she make her mother this way? She…she didn't like it at all.
If only she had been the obedient and calm daughter society wanted her to be. If only she wasn't too skinny. Or maybe things would've been better if she was a man. She could've been herself and be honorable at the same time. But no, being a female was the fate she had been assigned to. Things would've been better if she had actually made effort of preparing herself to the matchmaker's. Things would've been better if she wasn't born the way she was. Then she would see if huge grin on her mother's face instead of that damned look. Mulan looked away but as time passed, she looked again. This time she could see a tear stain and her mother was a bit paler. Mulan wanted to burst out into tears. Mulan would rather be blind than to see her mother like this. It was heartbreaking.
She apologized. Expect there was only small movement. No sound escaped from her lips.
Author's Note: Here's my Mother's Day Gift to you girls or guys…even though guys will never be mothers. I just felt like I had to make a story for this occasion so I did. It might be short but I'm hoping it's still meaningful.