Chapter 3
At 3 a.m., I sat by Derry’s bedside.
He was burning with a high fever, his face flushed and alarmingly hot. I stayed awake all night, terrified of missing even a single dose of his medicine.
My phone lit up with a message from Errol: *Let Barbara take care of him. You’re in no condition to look after him properly–don’t make things worse.*
“Auntie Barbie’s here!” Derry suddenly sat up in bed.
Barbara strode in, her heels clicking on the floor, holding a bowl of porridge. “Sweetheart, Auntie made your favorite pumpkin porridge.”
1/7
Chapter 3
+ 5 Points
Derry snuggled into Barbara’s arms, cooing, “You’re the best, Auntie. Mom stayed up all night and still couldn’t give me my medicine on time. My throat’s burning up.”
I stood frozen, a chill sweeping through me.
“Go rest, Barbara said, her smile fading as she looked down at me from her height. “I’ll take care of the child.”
Dazed, I walked to the storage room to find some extra cold medicine, only to spot our wedding photo discarded in the corner.
The frame was covered in dust, the photo yellowed with age.
On the living room wall, a new photo of Errol and Barbara hung proudly. It was one I had seen last month when I passed by
2/7
Chapter 3
+ 5 Points
the supermarket and caught them posing outside.
His phone buzzed suddenly, slipping from his hand and falling to the ground.
The screen was still lit.
It was a message to Barbara: *Once the divorce is finalized, we’ll head to the Mauritius. You and Derry have always wanted to go, and I’ll make sure to make it up to both of you.*
*Once I’m free of her, everything will get better.*
I pushed open Derry’s door, and on the table, a diary lay open.
*Why is my mom so useless? Auntie Barbie is so much better. She’s the one who should
3/7
Chapter 3
+ 5 Points
be my mom.*
*I got laughed at again at school today. All because of my mom, she can’t even help me with the simplest problems. I hate her!*
*Today, I finally called Auntie Barbie ‘Mom‘ It felt so good. I wish my real mom would just disappear from my life.*
Behind me, Derry’s furious voice rang out. “What are you doing in my room?”
“Get out!” He grabbed the diary from my hands. “You’re always sneaking around, never giving me any privacy!”
I saw a stack of photos in the drawer, all of him with Barbara.
While I stayed up late, pouring over spreadsheets, they had already been a
4/7
Chapter 3
+ 5 Points
family of three.
“How long are you going to keep clinging to us?!” Derry shouted, his eyes red with anger.
“Barbara Auntie is a thousand times better than you! You’re not even fit to be a mom!”
Enough.
I straightened up and went back to the bedroom to pack my things.
Errol stepped in front of me. “Where are you going? You can’t do anything on your own. Are you really going to live alone?”
He sneered as he sized me up. “Stop fooling yourself. All these years, all you’ve done is shop for groceries and cook. Do you really think you can make it on your own? Face it- without me, you’re nothing!”
5/7
Chapter 3
+ 5 Points
I paused, then turned to face him directly.
“Wait and see.”
Barbara was standing in the doorway, looking at me with mockery. “Think twice. You won’t survive on your own.”
“I heard you’re a finance graduate?” I finally looked her in the eye. “I hope your expertise is more than just a way to flatter men.”
I dragged my suitcase toward the door.
Behind me, Errol’s shout echoed. “Amelia! Get back here! Without me, you’re nothing!”
The elevator doors slowly closed.
This time, I finally saw everything clearly.
6/7
Chapter 3
+ 5 Points
This home was no longer worth staying in.
7/7
