
She's selfish, conceited, and the type of person I fight every day to never become. I hated her for it. I still cannot forgive her... but I've tried to put it behind me. I've been more patient with her than I have ever been. I step back when I can't take anymore so I don't lash out, then I take a breath and step back into the flames. I fight to try to get along with her, despite her stressful attitude about every little thing, despite the arrogance and selfish behavior she portrays. I fight so hard to try and be the adult, the one who can take what she dishes out but be courageous enough to not fight back.
...but it's hard sometimes. It's hard. So very hard. For as long as I could remember, I could never trust her. Ever since the day she blatantly lied to me. I was laying with her, cuddling with a mother I had cried for weeks over because I missed her so much. I missed her to the point that I would stand staring out my window crying my eyes out thinking she would never come back. When she did, I asked her if she would ever leave me. She said no. I asked her if she would ever lie to me. She said no. Then she promised. A promise made to a little girl full of love. I know it sounds stupid to you, but that promise meant everything to me, it still does too. Not even a day later, however, I found her in her bathroom trying to hide cigarettes. She said straight to my face in that moment, that she wasn't smoking. Lies.
A few years back, I found her again, hiding in the back yard with a cigarette in her mouth. She said it was a moment of weakness. I was mad, disappointed, defeated, and just when I thought I could trust my mother again.... Lies.

I've had enough of the lies. I'm tired of her hiding from me. If she's going to kill herself, I'd rather she do it without trying in vain to cover her tracks. So I've decided to confront her the next time I'm sitting next to her and she smells of cigarettes. Casually and callously I'll say, "You've never been good at hiding it from me, so if you are going to smoke, please, stop trying to hide it. I'm disappointed in you, I'll never forgive you, but please, it hurts more when you try to hide it. And when you've decided to stop for good, don't be afraid to ask for help."
No more hiding. No more lies.