especially for you.”
I paused, nodded.
“Thanks. but I don’t eat pork.”
く
Tiffany’s face twisted.
Tears welled up, and she lowered her head,
all pathetic.
“What’s the big deal? Is it gonna kill you?”
Gavin slammed his fork down, glaring at me
like I was being a bitch.
I stared into his hateful eyes, not sure how
things changed.
When he rescued me, he treated me like I was
made of glass, checking my meals to make
sure I was eating enough.
When I was thirteen, he bought every brand of
pad to teach me about being a woman.
<
When I was fourteen, he beat up some jerk
who pulled my bra strap.
My nails dug into my palms.
I looked away, not wanting him to see me so
weak.
Two seconds later, I was stone-cold again.
Thirty minutes later, the rain started, just like
before.
I heard the same lines Gavin had said last
time.
“Tiffany’s staving tonight.”
“The guest room light is broken, and she’s
scared of the dark. You two switch rooms.”
Gavin was watching my face, expecting me to
blow up.
He wasn’t wrong, that’s what I had done last
time.
In the end, Tiffany gave in and took the dark
room.
But she had a panic attack and ended up in
the ER.
After that, Gavin and I hit rock bottom.
Doesn’t matter now.
く
I’m moving out in a few days.
I don’t even care if she takes my room.
The blankets in the guest room smelled dusty,
took me back to my old home.
The useless dad, the nasty stepmom, the loyal
friends, and the neighbor who used to sneak
me jujubes.
Lost in memories, I drifted off to sleep.
Then, a bloodcurdling scream jolted me
awake.
Then came the frantic footsteps in the hall.
I opened the door, and someone grabbed my
<
collar and yanked me out.
Gavin threw me to the floor, his face twisted
with anger and disgust.
“You’re a monster. If anything happens to
Tiffany, you’re going to jail!”
He helped Tiffany, who was clutching her
bloody back, down the stairs.
Someone had stuck thumbtacks into her
back.
I shook my head, tried to clear the fog.
I pushed myself up.
My hand was throbbing from the fall.
Г
Even after I backed down, Tiffany still came
for me.
I pulled the suitcase from under the bed and
started packing.
A few seconds later, the housekeeper came
She’d watched me grow up, and looked sad
that I was leaving.
“Kayleen, it’s a mistake, it wasn’t you. Tell
Gavin when he comes back, explain–”
I cut her off.
“Mrs. Lee, do you believe it wasn’t me?”
୮
Mrs. Lee didn’t hesitate, she nodded hard.
I smiled, quickly wiping away tears.
When I was almost done packing, I pulled out
my favorite doll.
Gavin gave it to me when I first came here,
and it has stayed on my bed since.
I handed it to Mrs. Lee.
“Mrs. Lee, I remember your granddaughter
loved this one. I’m too old for it. If you don’t
mind, give it to her.”
Mrs. Lee hesitated.
“I remember that Gavin sewed it by hand for
L
you.”
“He worked on it for two weeks, his hand was
covered in blood.”
I nodded, said nothing.
An hour later, I was at a hotel with my
suitcase.
Gavin called.
His voice was low, tight with rage.
H 4#
7
4114
“Kayleen, you caused a lot of trouble.”
7
“Why are you not at the hospital?”
I still felt dizzy from him throwing me on the
ground.
L
My voice was weak.
“It wasn’t me.”
“Who else would it be?”
“You need to come to the hospital and
apologize, now!”
He hung up.
I thought about it, then grabbed the flash
drive with the video and headed to the
hospital.
I saw Gavin standing outside the room.
He stared at me, face like stone.
く
“Mrs. Lee told me you moved out.”
“Where to?”
I was surprised, didn’t expect him to ask that.
I didn’t answer, just held out the drive.
“She set me up.”
