- 11.
The man was Lily’s online boyfriend, ten years
her senior, a jobless loser who preyed on
young girls online, leeching off them for
money and a place to crash. He spent his
days in internet cafes, his nights getting
drunk.
He turned at Lily’s outburst, shoving her aside
before swaggering towards me. “So, this is your mom, huh? Not bad.” He leered at me,
his gaze lingering inappropriately. I fought
back the urge to vomit
く
“Mom! Please! I don’t need any allowance, I
don’t need anything! Just take me home!” Lily
dropped to her knees, tears streaming down.
her face.
“Dad changed after he married Ashley. He’s
always annoyed with me and refuses to give
me any money. Grandma ignores me and
makes me wait on her hand and foot.
Ashley’s horrible to me too. She screams at
me all the time.”
“I ran away and moved in with my boyfriend,
but… he’s not any better…
99
The man kicked her hard, snarling. “You’re
my woman now! You belong to me! You
should be grateful I even let you go to school!
Don’t even think about leaving me! I’ll kill
” He rained blows down on her
く
Parents watched, most unfazed, as if this
were a common occurrence. A few reached
for their phones to call the police.
“Don’t bother, it’s pointless,” another parent
advised. “We called the cops a couple of
times before. They came to take him away,
but she begged them to let him go, claiming
we were just jealous of her happiness.”
“The cops looked so awkward. It was painful
to watch.”
“It’s their business. Best to stay out of it.”
I cringed, knowing Lily was capable of such a
performance.
When he was done, the man grabbed Lily by
the hair and dragged her towards a boat
<
the hair and dragged her towards a beat–up
motorcycle.
I followed them with my eyes and noticed
Emily standing across the street, hiding
behind a lamppost.
I chuckled and waved her over.
“What are you doing over there? Come on,
I’ve been waiting for you.”
“I… I didn’t know you were waiting for me. I
thought you were here for Lily. I didn’t want
to… upset her,” Emily mumbled, glancing
nervously at Lily and her boyfriend.
I smiled and tapped her nose. “Don’t worry.
I’m done with her. You’re my only daughter
now.”
<
“Let’s celebrate those amazing grades.
Dinner’s on me.”
I took Emily’s hand. “Thank you, Mom,” she whispered.
I stopped. “What did you call me?”
Emily blushed, her cheeks bright red. “You…
you’re a thousand times better than my real
mom. Can I… can I call you Mom?”
I smiled. This was what I’d been longing for.
“Of course, you can.”
As we crossed the street, hand–in–hand, Lily
and her boyfriend roared past on his
motorcycle.
She stared at our clasped hands, her eyes
<
filled not with anger, but with regret.
She finally realized I wasn’t there for her.
She finally understood.
I really was done with her.
