For the first two days after my father's death, my mother barely got out of bed.
She took unpaid leave — just a few days. Said she needed time to bury her husband and pull herself together. I understood those were just words. In reality, she was trying not to fall apart.
All that time, I was either with her or at work.There were no other options.
I asked the neighbors to keep an eye on her. If she didn't open the door, if she didn't go outside for too long, if they noticed anything strange — to call me immediately. I couldn't stay home all the time, but leaving her alone was terrifying.
My mother almost stopped eating.
Sometimes I caught her gaze — empty, unfocused, as if she were looking straight through the walls.
Physically, she was still holding on.Mentally — she wasn't.
That day at work was unbearable.
There were corporate events in the restaurant, some parties, noisy tables. Laughter, loud conversations, the clinking of glasses. People were celebrating something that no longer existed for me.
Everything irritated me.
Voices.Music.Other people's happiness.
I moved mechanically. Tray — table — smile — apology. I barely looked at people, because every face felt like mockery.
That's why I didn't notice when I clipped the water carafe.
It tipped.Fell.Shattered.
Water spread across the floor and soaked the expensive trousers of the man sitting at the central table.
He rose slowly.
An expensive suit. A watch worth more than my yearly wages. A calm, confident look of someone used to the world bending to his will.
Later, I learned he was an investor. Influential. Here to inspect the district, to discuss investments.
But at that moment, he was just a man looking at me like I was an object.
"Do you even know who I am?" he asked calmly.
"I'm sorry…" I said. "It was an accident."
He stepped closer, almost face to face.
"On your knees."
I didn't immediately understand what he said.
"What…?"
"I said, on your knees," he repeated. "And wipe it. You ruined my clothes."
The restaurant grew quieter.People began to turn and watch.
"I had a funeral today," I said quietly. "I just—"
He slapped me across the face.
Not hard.Hard enough for everyone to hear the sound.
My head snapped to the side.My cheek instantly burned.
"I don't care," he said calmly. "You're not here to talk."
Someone smirked.Someone laughed softly.
"Go on," he continued. "Or do you need help?"
I stood there, fists clenched so tightly my nails dug into my palms.
The second slap was stronger.
I staggered but stayed on my feet.
"Do you even understand where your place is?" he asked. "Here?" — he pointed at the wet floor. — "Or even lower?"
Someone muttered,"Damn…"
Someone pulled out a phone.
The administrators were already running over.
"We're sorry," they said quickly. "We'll handle this."
"Handle it," he replied. "I don't want him here."
They grabbed me by the arms and pulled me aside, like I was a problem — not a person.
"Hand over your apron," they said. "We'll call you."
I didn't resist.
I just felt something inside me finally compress and go hollow.
I stepped outside.
I no longer had a job.
When I got home, my mother wasn't there.
I immediately knew where she had gone.
To my father's grave.
I automatically asked,
"System. Any tasks?"
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SYSTEM RESPONSENo tasks available.
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I smirked.
"Of course."
Then I remembered the morning task.
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SYSTEM — DAILY TASK
Run 10 kilometers.
Reward:• Strength +1
Status: Available
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I stood in the empty apartment, feeling like there was no room left inside me for endurance.
I went to the cemetery.
My mother was sitting by my father's grave.Silent. Hunched over. As if she had become smaller.
I stood beside her, not knowing what to say.
I felt just as broken as she was. Lost. Empty.But I couldn't show it.
Someone had to hold on.
I clenched my teeth, straightened my back, forced myself to look calm.Because if I broke down — there would be nothing left for her to lean on.
I looked at my father's name carved into the cold stone, and something inside me began to crack.
Exhaustion washed over me.Not physical.The kind that makes your hands go numb and your breathing heavy.
I suddenly realized I couldn't handle it anymore.
Tears welled up without warning.My throat tightened.
I looked away, because I had no right to cry here.Not now.Not in front of her.
But the harder I tried to hold myself together, the more clearly I felt it — I was falling apart.
I was no longer the support I was supposed to be for my mother.I was just as lost as she was.
And if I kept enduring like this…if I kept pretending to be strong…we would both drown.
I slowly exhaled.
"System…" I said quietly, almost in a whisper. "Accept daily task."
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SYSTEMDaily task accepted.
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I clenched my fists.
This wasn't about strength.Not about levels.
This was about not breaking right here.
I turned around.
And I ran.