ssa

felt like a betrayal of the woman who had fled this place in agony just an hour before. But I h

the anticipation of seeing Joshua' s face, was g

happy peals of it. It was Joshua. He was laughing with a carefree joy I

mile fixed on his face. "Look who I

ofa, Joshua nestled in her lap, his head thrown back in laughter as she tickled his side.

It didn' t just fade; it snapped off, like a light bei

his voice barely a w

the room

d have reluctantly given. I would have knelt down, my heart aching, and asked him what

there, my hands cl

tom pains from his illness. I' d whisper promises into his hair, swearing to him that I would work har

ven years of grueling, soul-crushing wo

behind her legs. The small movement was a rejection so profound it sto

eutral. The mask of a calm, loving mother was the heaviest thing I had e

unding foreign and strained. "

et in a pout. He shook his head, burying his face

nice. Your mom is tired. She works very hard for you." She shot me a look, one I used to interp

id to me, her voice dripping with fake sw

ith me. He was repulsed.

me had held my hand, promising to be there for us no matter what. I had been so grateful, so

She had stolen my son from me, right under my nose, with cookies a

d forward, knocking a bowl of fruit off the coffee table. Gra

y me!" she

right, honey?" he asked, his voice thick with a concern he had nev

mess she had created. Joshua rushed to help too, carefu

ed. I was an outsider in my own famil

y settle in my chest. There

o," I said,

ed in annoyance. "Alyssa, don'

ouldn' t breathe in that room for a

-