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Cocina Consejos: A mothers love and wisdom
Category: Drabbles
Cocina Consejos
www.roleplayer.me/itsbenji
The aroma of simmering chilaquiles filled the warm kitchen of the Cárdenas family home. Normally, the scent would have Benji's mouth watering, but today, he barely noticed it. He sat slumped at the familiar wooden table, fingers tracing the grooves worn by years of family meals and heart-to-heart talks.
Isabela Cárdenas glanced at her son, her brow furrowing with concern. She'd known something was wrong the moment he showed up unannounced, his usual vibrant energy dimmed to a flicker. "Mijo," she said softly, turning down the heat on the stove. "What's troubling you? You look like you've lost your best friend."
Benji let out a bitter laugh that sounded more like a sob. "Worse, Mamá. I've lost Roman."
Isabela's eyes widened. She quickly wiped her hands on her apron and sat across from Benji, reaching out to clasp his hands in hers. "What happened, Benjamín? I thought things were going well between you two."
Benji couldn't meet her eyes. "We broke up," he mumbled, his voice thick with unshed tears. "I... I told him he was too much. That I couldn't handle the pressure of what he wanted from me."
The kitchen fell silent for a moment, broken only by the soft bubbling of the pot on the stove. Then, Isabela's voice cut through the quiet, sharp with disappointment. "Benjamín Sebastián Cárdenas!"
The use of his full name made Benji flinch. "How could you say such a thing? That boy loved you with his whole heart!"
Benji's shoulders hunched, feeling the weight of his mother's disappointment. "I know, Mamá. I just... I got scared. He wanted a future, plans, commitments. It felt like too much."
Isabela's expression softened slightly, but her voice remained firm. "Mijo, look at me." Reluctantly, Benji raised his eyes to meet his mother's gaze. "Love isn't a burden, Benjamín. It's not something to run from. It's a gift." Her voice cracked slightly. "Your father and I raised you to be brave, to face challenges head-on. Since when does my son cower in the face of love?" The words hit Benji like a physical blow.
Tears he'd been holding back began to fall. "I don't know how to be what he needs, Mamá. I'm not built for settling down."
Isabela squeezed his hands tightly. "Oh, mijo. Being in love doesn't mean you have to clip your wings. It means having someone to fly with, to share your adventures." She reached out, gently wiping a tear from Benji's cheek. "You've always had such a big heart, Benji. Big enough to hold your family, your dreams, and yes, even a lasting love. Don't let fear make it smaller."
Benji leaned into his mother's touch, feeling like a little boy again. "What if it's too late? What if I've ruined everything?"
Isabela stood up, pulling Benji into a tight embrace. "It's never too late to fight for love, mijo. If Roman is truly important to you, then you need to be brave enough to tell him that. To show him that your love is bigger than your fear."
As Benji clung to his mother, breathing in the familiar scent of her perfume mixed with the spices from her cooking, he felt a glimmer of hope. He'd made a mistake, but maybe, just maybe, it wasn't too late to fix it. Isabela pulled back, cupping Benji's face in her hands. "Now, eat something. Then we'll talk about how you're going to make things right with Roman." For the first time since he'd arrived, a small smile tugged at Benji's lips. In his mother's kitchen, surrounded by love and the promise of her famous chilaquiles, the world didn't seem quite so daunting anymore...
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