A Parting Gift of Forged Records

The pitter-patter of rain against the window brought me back to the present.

It was raining.

I remembered the new rose bushes on the terrace and rushed out to bring them inside, but the flowers had already been maliciously trampled into the dirt.

Before I could even register the loss, I heard a click.

The terrace door was locked from the inside.

"Caleb, open the door!" I pounded desperately on the glass.

But all I saw was Caleb on the other side, pointing at me and shouting to Chloe, "Godmom, come look! She looks like a drowned rat!"

Chloe smiled and tapped him on the head.

"You little rascal. Come on, Godmom will take you to buy some snacks."

"Yay!"

Caleb, ignoring me completely, skipped away holding Chloe's hand.

The November downpour was bone-chilling. I huddled in a corner, frozen, not just my body, but my very soul.

It wasn't until the last rose petal was beaten from its stem that Julian, just home from work, finally let me in.

Under the bright lights, my face was deathly pale, my hair plastered to my skin in wet strands. I must have looked like a pathetic ghost.

Chloe covered her mouth in feigned surprise. "Oh my God, Ava, what happened to you?"

Caleb hid behind her, making faces at me.

And Julian, after hearing what had happened, just frowned.

"Ava, you're a grown woman. How could you let a child lock you out? Be more careful next time."

I didn't say a word. I lunged for Caleb.

Julian panicked, shoving me back. "What are you doing? You're really going to hold a grudge against a child?"

"He's just a kid, but you're a grown woman!"

His push sent me stumbling backward. I landed in a pathetic heap on the floor.

Caleb burst out in piercing laughter.

In this twisted trial, I, the clear victim, had been cast as the sole defendant.

I looked up at the father and son and let out a dry, hollow laugh.

Then I stood up and walked toward them, my face a blank mask.

They must have thought I was about to surrender. Undisguised mockery was plain on both their faces, the large and the small.

My hand flew out, striking each of them across the face. A sharp slap, then another.

Caleb's eyes widened. He clutched his cheek and ran crying to Chloe. "I hate you! You're a psycho! You deserve to be alone forever!"

Julian was now beyond furious, panting as he glared at me.

Chloe, ever the peacemaker, held Julian back and started in on me. "Ava, Caleb is just a child. How could you, his mother—"

A third slap cut her off.

"You're annoying," I said flatly. I had wanted to do that for a long time.

Seeing Chloe theatrically stumble backward, Caleb was so scared he stopped crying.

Julian frantically caught her in his arms and started to carry her out, throwing a threat over his shoulder.

"If Chloe's condition gets any worse, you'll pay for this!"

Afraid I might do something else to Caleb, he dragged his son along with them.

Good. They were all gone. The house was finally quiet.

After being drenched in the rain all evening, I developed a high fever in the middle of the night. I dragged my weak body out of bed, searching for medicine.

In a daze, I sensed someone approaching.

I forced my eyes open and was met with Chloe's sneering, contemptuous gaze.