Sarah, from the short story “Mom Still Likes You Best: The Unfinished Business Between Siblings,” is a character riddled with feelings of rejection and inferiority (Isay, 2010). She always felt that her mother favored her younger brother, which led to a lifelong sense of resentment and bitterness. In this new plot, Sarah, now a middle-aged woman, decides to break free from her past and embark on her journey of self-discovery. She resigns from her high-paying corporate job and signs up for a solo world tour. Her decision shocks her family, but she is adamant.
As Sarah travels through different countries, she encounters varied cultures, traditions, and people. Each place offers her a new perspective on life and her own self. Her journey becomes her therapy, helping her heal old wounds and understand her mother’s point of view, which she had never considered before.
In the heart of Africa, she volunteers at a local orphanage where she meets a little girl who reminds her of her younger self. She forms a bond with the girl and decides to adopt her. The process of adoption makes her realize the challenges and choices a mother faces, which she was ignorant of before. Meanwhile, back home, her mother falls seriously ill. Sarah returns home and reconciles with her mother on her deathbed, finally letting go of her resentment. She realizes that her mother always loved her but had her own way of showing it.
Sarah’s journey ends with her becoming a mother herself, adopting a little girl from Africa, and running a successful travel blog where she shares her experiences and lessons learned from her journey. She finally finds her purpose in life, becoming a more understanding, forgiving, and loving person, not just to her family, but also to herself. This story showcases the transformation of Sarah’s character from a resentful, angry individual to a loving, forgiving, and understanding person.
Work Cited
Isay, J. (2010). Mom Still Likes You Best: The Unfinished Business Between Siblings. Anchor.