Gone From the World for Good

My mom stood frozen in place, completely stunned.

My uncle looked at his own hand with something like regret in his eyes, but when he spoke, it was still a scolding. "Claire, you started it!"

My dad had already lifted Sarah into his arms gently. His cold gaze locked onto my mom. "Why do you have to drag the kids into grown-up business? You're a rich girl who has everything. Why do you still have to compete with Sarah?"

My mom held her reddened cheek. Tears rolled down her face uncontrollably. "You win, Sarah. All these blind, heartless people—I don't want them anymore. I'm giving them to you."

My dad froze for a moment, then his face flooded with anger. "Claire! Why are you so stubborn? You're the one who did something wrong, and you still dare to talk like that?"

My mom didn't answer. She took my hand and turned to leave.

But my dad chased after us and grabbed her wrist hard. There was a vicious look in his eyes. "Did I say you could leave? You need to explain yourself!"

My uncle also looked completely shocked. Disappointment colored his voice. "No matter how angry you are, you can't say something like that! Claire, do you even have a heart?"

My mom's hand was painfully cold. I held onto her tightly, scared, wanting to comfort her.

But just then, Fiona—who everyone had forgotten about—suddenly let out a scream. "Lily, it's not my fault! Don't push me!"

She lunged at me. Caught off guard, I grabbed onto her, and we both tumbled toward the swimming pool.

The freezing water swallowed me whole. It rushed into my nose and throat, choking, suffocating.

I heard my mom's desperate, heartbroken scream. "Lily! Evan, David, save her—she can't swim!"

My dad and uncle jumped into the water in a panic and swam toward me as hard as they could.

Running on pure instinct, I weakly lifted my small, limp hand. "Dad... Uncle... help..."

I was so close. I could almost touch their hands.

Then Sarah's shrill cry split the air. "David! Help! Fiona's leg is cramping—I can't hold her!"

I watched with my own eyes as the two big hands reaching for me suddenly pulled back.

Without a moment of hesitation, they turned and swam quickly toward Fiona on the other side.

My air ran out. Everything went dark. I started sinking.

The last thing I saw was my mom—who couldn't swim—throwing herself into the water without a second thought. "Lily, don't be scared! Mommy's coming! Mommy's coming to save you!"

I don't know how much time passed. I coughed violently and opened my eyes.

My mom was soaking wet, holding me, crying with relief.

But my dad coldly grabbed her and tore her away from me.

"Claire, look at what you've turned Lily into." He looked down at us with icy eyes. "She's so jealous at such a young age that she'd push Fiona into the water and almost kill her."

The cold seeped all the way through me. I couldn't stop shaking. I tried to defend myself in a small voice. "I didn't push her..."

But my dad cut me off coldly, disappointment all over his face. "Still lying? I don't think you can raise Lily right. I'm giving her to Sarah, so you don't ruin her."

My mom's eyes went wide with terror. She lunged back like a madwoman and wrapped her body around me, protecting me with everything she had. "No! Don't take Lily away from me!"

I held onto her just as tightly, screaming through my sobs. "No! I didn't do anything wrong! I don't want to leave Mommy!"

My mom was desperate and frantic, kicking and biting my dad.

My dad hesitated for a moment. Something flickered in his eyes.

My mom's once-straight spine finally broke. Her red, swollen eyes locked onto his. "David, please don't take Lily away. I'm begging you. It's all my fault. I admit it. I'll give her everything. I'll take Lily and leave. We'll never get in your way again."

Anger rose in my dad's eyes. He pried her fingers off me one by one. "Leave? Where do you think you're taking Lily? Claire, without my permission, you're not going anywhere."