Marissa, a forty-nine-year-old single mother, finally found stability after years of juggling multiple jobs to support her son, Logan. When she secured a full-time janitorial position at the university he attends—complete with benefits and a steady schedule—it felt like long-overdue relief. Proud and hopeful, she shared the news with Logan, only to be met with shame and rejection. He called her job embarrassing and walked away, leaving her hurt but determined to work anyway.
On her first days on campus, Marissa kept her head down and focused on her duties. One afternoon, she encountered Logan and his friends in a busy academic building. Instead of ignoring her, Logan mocked the cleaning staff aloud while looking directly at her, prompting laughter from his friends. The moment cut deeply, reducing her from “mother” to something he felt the need to distance himself from.