l hand clutching mine. I carefully slipped a

ng-sized bed that felt more like a chasm. His indifference to Emily's supposed cak

e house was qu

or so I hoped. I didn't want a confron

up the feed from the internal security cameras on my encrypted lapt

yesterday's date – Emily's birthday.

rning. Maria was there, Em

rand, three-ti

d-looking supermarket cupcake with

ll. I saw the disappo

h churn. She was speaking rapidly in Spanish, a language I'd picked up

his is what you get. The good cake, the robot cake your mother wasted

, tears wellin

other anything, anything at all, I'll lock you in the d

I felt sick. This w

tly, packing the magnificent robot cake – Emily's cake – into a l

mily was listless on the sofa. Maria app

juice, sweet girl," Maria cooed

minutes, her eyes grew heavy. She slump

d. The "specia

aria, moving like a wr

l handbag. A diamond necklace I rarely wore. Several of Emily's expensive, unworn designer outfits – includi

nondescript duffel bag.

g part. The kitchen came

t tired, not heading t

with

close. His hand was on her arm, then it slid down to her waist. She laughed, a

but the intimacy was undeniable.

ed up their footsteps heading towards Kevin's hom

d sharp, puls

ft. Neglect. Emotional abuse. Drugging my chil

there. Ir

n my study doo

er? I saw your light. Can't sleep? I brought you some war

The "special sleepy jui

of fury, but a chillin

my voice surprisingly stea

wouldn't drink it. B

dipped a finger

a faint, bitter a

d over me. My head felt heavy, my thought

my desk, fighting the

ging me too.

he sheer, calcu