oe

nd walked numbly up the stairs, each step f

n your room!" Freya's voice called after me. "Do

rried my steps, escaping back

her perfume and the stench of their sex still hung hea

sheets off the mattress, and shoved them into a trash bag. I wo

il I was sitting on the floor. I buried my face in my knee

ngs this family no longer wanted. It was a world away from my s

wall. They were one of the few splashes of color

ed for more than a decade. It felt mor

five when the Kowalskis ad

Until a year later, when she

e the center of their universe. I became

xpensive toys, the hugs and p

owns and a never-en

make Emma's breakfast on time. Freya had pointed a f

r reducer and walked away in silence. His cowa

ugh, if I was obedient enough, I cou

uldn't cost them a dime. I did all the

emanded I give them the money I earned fr

into the newest iP

s my college classmate. We were in love, e

. Emma would flirt with him openly. Freya would constant

y had stolen my fiancé and were now trying to sell my freedom, my very li

ity of my powerlessness choked me. I had no money, no degree yet, and absolutely no one to rely on. The

re illusions about this family, about this thing they called lo

ked to my desk, op

I started searching for "how to legally sever adoption t

ht still have a legal obligation to support them in the future. As for Blake, his medical records and

broke. Freya had sipho

uldn't even afford to rent the cheap

way seemed pathetic i

kened, the clouds heavy and op

e was hard, but at least no one looked at

my bed, his hand resting intimately on her bare thigh. The caption read: "Some people j

ery last bit of my weakness. I slammed the phone

arrived, I would seize the narrative. Freya thought she had me cornered,