nna

tailored black slacks, sunglasses pushed up in my

o

ears ago I had nothing. Now I walked in like I

late! Who do you think

ed at m

ur. You have twenty-five

somebody now? You're the same trash yo

y think I'd stand here and watch you throw a tantrum? You ca

ust call m

you caug

ned and close

Did you

on the table. "Five years, and the

very fight was my fault. Five y

ering. I turned and

g?" Brielle shrieked. "D

more step and I'll

y father the night you sold me. Break my

end of the seco

ther'

r books. Her reading chair by the window. After she died, I fought to keep it exactly the way she left i

ed the

fr

headboard. Pink fur rug. A ring light in the corner. A hu

edals. Her bo

go

s was still a shrine

me up. She leaned in

in the house on a corpse? I mov

d aroun

ke one step back. Then she remembered s

my mother

t. Actually, I burned most of it, along with all yo

AC

er head snapped to the side. A red

pressed to her face. "You..

AC

The oth

to finish a s

d and lunged at

r even t

r. Five years of self-defense classes. Five years of promi

lat on her back. All t

ne knee ont

ain," I sa

red. Then purple.

ife, she looked at me and s

s. "We didn't burn anything! It's in the basement! All

y knee ba

asping and coughing, and

nd straighte

there," I said. "If one item is missi

t them towar

ter, "Are you insane? You know she goes cra

e! I thought she was dead! Are we su

opped low. I almo

d her perfectly. Let her

, ugly

surprise waiting f