- 2.
“Can you drop the act already?”
Last time, she used this same routine to
manipulate me.
Whenever the Millers were around, she’d
always stick up for me, but behind my back,
she’d do everything she could to mess with
- me.
“If you’re not going to say anything, I’ll just
pay you back myself, then I’m done with the
Miller family.” I say, whipping out my phone,
wiring them money in the family group chat,
keeping the transfer screenshot, deleting the
L
chat and bailing from the group.
Dad gets the notification, his eyes are glued
to me, he asks, all serious, “What are you
doing? Do you have to make this so
transactional?”
I reply evenly, “Yes.”
Seeing them look at me like I’m the enemy,
my heart still hurts.
Honestly, I don’t get what Dad wants, does he
want me to stay or go? He agreed with Mike
about kicking me out, but now he’s trying to
stop me.
I’m almost at the door when Bethany runs
over, grabs my arm.
“Please don’t go,” she begs, her saccharine
act makes my skin crawl.
I push her away, not even hard, and she falls
to the ground. Cardboard cutouts are
sturdier.
Same old tricks.
L
Before Bethany can say anything, I cut her
off, “So fragile, huh? Guess you really did
have it rough. Now that you’re with the
Millers, make sure they fatten you up.”
I turn, push open the door, and walk out.
I hear Dad yell behind me, “If you walk out
that door, don’t ever come back!”
I laugh to myself, don’t worry, I won’t.
I have a second chance, I’m not going to be a
fool again.
I get to the apartment I rented after my
eighteenth birthday.
Half a month later, the Millers show up again.
I’m heading out to meet my best friend.
I get to the apartment lobby and see Mike
leaning against his car, cigarette butts
everywhere.
I’m disgusted, littering is such a jerk move!
Is he waiting for me? Whatever, I pretend not
to see him and walk past.
<
“Abby.”
When I ignore him, he tries again, “Abby
Miller.”
I stop, turn around, and ask coldly, “What do
you want?”
“Come home, Mom misses you.”
Misses me? Does he even hear how lame that
sounds?
She thinks Bethany is her real daughter, she
doesn’t have time to think about me, the fake. l’ignore him.
Seeing that I’m not giving in, he gets angry,
snaps, “I said, come home.”
“Why should I?” I ask sharply.
Why should I leave when they want me gone,
and come back when they say so?
They ended our eighteen–year relationship,
not me.
“Mom’s sick, she raised you for eighteen.
years, shouldn’t you go see her?”
L
Using the “raised you” card to guilt trip me.
I remember when I was little, and I got sick,
Mom would stay by my side, never leaving for
a second.
Taking care of me, making herself sick in the
process.
Fine, I’ll go see her, just once.
I walk back into the Miller house.
Mom is pale and frail, lying in bed, muttering
something I can’t understand.
Bethany is sitting next to her, looking
annoyed, I guess Mom’s mumbling is getting
on her nerves.
“Mom, Abby’s here,” Mike says, leading me
over to Mom.
“Abby,” Mom’s voice is weak, she really does
seem sick.
“I’m here,” I say, taking her hand, I can’t help
feeling bad for her.
Mom begs, “Come home, please? I can’t live
without you.”
I don’t answer.
I feel bad, but I’m still thinking straight!
She can’t live without me? Why didn’t she
choose me, every time there was a choice to
make?
If I move back, I’ll have to spend every day
walking on eggshells, I won’t have any
freedom, that’s not what I want.
Plus, we already agreed on breaking ties.
“Don’t you forgive me?” Mom cries, tears
falling onto my hand.
“You just want your real daughter, what’s
wrong with that?”
I tell her to rest, and that I’ll come see her
again.
She cares so much about blood, I’m worried
she might have a meltdown when she finds
out the truth.
Bethany follows me out of the room.
<
“Abby Miller,” she calls out.
I stop, curious what she’s up to now.
She brags about all the stuff the Millers got
her, I just laugh.
If I told her it was all my old stuff, she’d
probably explode.
But I don’t say anything, I just want to watch
her make a fool of herself.
