I was in a lot of pain, but I didn’t cry. No one
cared anyway.
Grandma slapped me hard. “How dare you do
that to Tiffany! You’re just as bad as your
mom, nothing but trouble!”
L
I covered my face and started to cry. I
couldn’t help myself.
Mom always said I was a good kid, and
neither of my parents had ever hit me before.
So this is what it felt like.
My uncle’s face was dark. He reached his
hand out. “Give it over.”
I didn’t, so he tried to take it.
My uncle was much stronger than me.
It was Mom’s old phone.
Dad gave it to me after she died.
It had a lot of videos and pictures of Mom on
Whenever I missed her, I’d watch them.
Tiffany glared at me and snatched the phone from my uncle. “This little brat was probably trying to call the cops!”
I panicked. “Don’t touch my phone! There’s no SIM card in there, so it can’t call anyone!”
“Give it back! I won’t call Dad, and I won’t call
the cops!”
I got on my knees and started grabbing his leg, crying. “I won’t be able to sleep! I need to
watch Mom’s videos and look at her pictures,
please, give it back!”
My uncle said, coldly, “Then get your mom to
tuck you into bed.”
く
Tiffany rolled her wheelchair to the window.
She held the phone out the window. “Tell me
where your mom is, or I’ll throw this phone
out.”
My heart was racing. I was so scared.
“No! Mom’s in there! Give it back!”
My grandma held my arm so I couldn’t move.
“Not going to talk? Fine. Naughty children
need to be punished.”
Tiffany let go.
Splat
My head started spinning.
Mom’s phone was old, and the case was all
scratched up.
But I still cleaned it every day and took good
care of it.
Now, it was broken into a million pieces.
And I wouldn’t see Mom again.
My uncle said, “Not liking this feeling? If your
mom was here, she would protect you.”
“So, are you going to tell me where she is
now?”
I couldn’t breathe. “I don’t have a mom
anymore, she’s not here!”
Tiffany slapped me. “Why are you still lying?”
I didn’t care about the pain.
I felt a tightness in my chest, like someone
was squeezing my heart and I couldn’t get
enough air.
Maybe I should jump out of the window and
see Mom.
Then I wouldn’t be a kid without a mom.
And no one could hurt me anymore!
I climbed onto the windowsill.
I wanted to leave!
My uncle sounded panicked. “What are you
doing?”
I opened my arms.
My uncle looked terrified and ran toward me.
