Life was good.
A year flew by.
It was Lily’s field day.
David had to work.
I went alone.
Г
I decided to buy cotton candy and wait at the
finish line.
As I came back, I heard parents talking.
“A kid is stealing.
Some girl is crying…”
I panicked.
I ran toward the track.
Lily’s voice reached me.
I pushed through the crowd.
Lily was on the ground, covered in dirt.
She cried.
She ran to me.
“Mommy, someone stole my charm…”
“Who?”
I was angry.
I saw a boy with his head down.
“How dare you steal! Where are your parents?
57
<
You’re in so much trouble!”
The boy didn’t look up.
I went to find a teacher.
“Mom, it’s mine! You gave it to me!”
The boy cried.
Mom?
I stopped.
It was Ryan, with tears in his eyes.
“It was my birthday present.
Why did you give it to her?”
His face was red.
The parents started to whisper.
“Is that her family?
She doesn’t care about her own kid…”
く
“She’s playing favorites.
Poor kid.”
I yelled at Ryan.
“Who are you?
I’m not your mom.
I only have Lily.
Give back what you stole, or I’ll call your
parents!”
Ryan threw himself on the ground.
“Mom, don’t leave me!
You’re my mom!
Why don’t you want me?”
Lily wiped her eyes.
She tugged on my shirt.
“Mommy, it’s okay…Let’s go…”
I nodded.
“Fine.
Keep it,” I said.
I picked up Lily and left.
“Mom, don’t go!”
Ryan chased us.
We stopped near the back of the gym.
“What?” I asked.
Ryan held the charm.
“Mom, why did you give this to her?”
I laughed.
“Ryan, I gave you a charm.
You didn’t want it.
You threw it away.”
He was sick as a kid.
I had a charm made for him.
But he didn’t want it.
<
He threw it away.
Lily’s charm, I bought it after I came back.
“Mom…” Tears fell.
“Don’t leave me, Mom.”
I smirked.
“Don’t call me Mom.
You don’t deserve it.
You never cared for me.
Your Amy was more important.
Is she treating you bad?”
He cried.
“She…doesn’t like me.
She’s mean…”
“Oh.
Not my problem.
You chose this.
I only have Lily.
Leave us alone!”
I took the charm from him.
“You don’t deserve this.”
Ryan looked shocked.
“Sarah! Ryan!”
Mark ran up to us.
He looked tired.
His hair was a mess, and his shirt was
buttoned wrong.
“Sarah, long time no see,” he said.
“Do you miss Ryan?”
I raised an eyebrow.
“Are you crazy?
I have my own kid.
Why would I miss yours?”
<
He wrung his hands.
“Sarah, I was wrong.
Can you give us another chance?”
Was hell frozen over?
I glared at him.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.
Control your brat.
He’s stealing from my daughter!”
“You!” Mark was angry.
“Sarah, why are you like this?
We’re sorry.
What do you want?”
I rolled my eyes.
“I don’t want anything.
I don’t know you.
