- 10.
I enrolled Emily in Lily’s prestigious high
school, placing her in a different class.
Academics during the day, piano practice
every evening and weekend.
Bright and dedicated, she quickly caught up
on her schoolwork despite the months she’d
missed.
Her dedication to the piano was absolute.
One night, I woke to see the light on in the
music room.
Emily was practicing silently, her fingers
dancing over the keys without making a
sound afraid of disturbina me
<
This became her nightly ritual.
Soon, her playing far surpassed Lily’s skill level at the time of the competition in my
previous life.
Her grades soared, landing her in the top 10%
of her class within two months.
Even if she didn’t win the competition, she
was on track for a top–tier university.
After midterms, I waited outside the school
gates to take Emily out for a celebratory
barbecue dinner.
I saw Lily before I saw Emily.
She’d gained weight, her skin greasy and
broken out. She looked vears older.
く
She was shoveling greasy potato chips into
her mouth.
I used to make her healthy, home–cooked
meals, which she’d always complain about, preferring junk food and takeout.
Left to her own devices… this was the result.
Oh well.
You reap what you sow.
I wasn’t planning on acknowledging her, but
she spotted me and marched over.
She seemed surprised by my transformation, but her brow was furrowed. “What are you doing here?”
Г
“You promised Dad you’d leave me alone!
Remember?”
“Did you change your mind about ditching
me? Well, it’s too late! I’m not your problem
anymore!”
“I’m not here for you,” I replied calmly.
She scoffed. “Liar. Then who are you here
for? Just admit you came to see me.”
“If you’re honest and give me $5,000 a month
for allowance, I might think about coming
back.”
Her words revealed her unhappiness.
Too proud to beg, she resorted to
<
Too bad I wasn’t playing that game.
I shook my head. “Too rich for my blood. I
can’t afford you.”
She haggled. “$3,000? That’s less than you
used to pay for those stupid piano lessons.”
Stupid piano lessons?
The opportunity Emily craved was worthless
garbage to her.
Before I could respond, a man’s voice
boomed behind me.
“Who the hell are you talking to, you little
bitch!?”
く
A man shoved me aside roughly, his face a
mask of fury.
He reeked of cigarettes and stale beer, his
greasy, unwashed hair a tangled mess.
His clothes were ripped and stained with
cigarette burns.
He looked like trouble.
He grabbed Lily’s wrist. “I told you to get
straight in the car after school! Are you
itching for a beating?”
I glanced down and saw the bruises on Lily’s
wrist, peeking out from under her sleeve.
Lily trembled as he spoke.
く
The unmistakable fear of an abused woman.
She stumbled forward a few steps, then
stopped, turning back to me, her voice
desperate. “Mom! I…I want to come home!”
