12 Years I Served, He Paid with Divorce

Synopsis

I was in the kitchen washing veggies when the doorbell rang. Cold water trickled through my fingers, making my hands red and numb. "Mom, someone's here for you," Teresa Bennett called from the living room. Her voice was clear and crisp. I was about to answer with a smile. But when I looked up and saw toys and food scattered everywhere, my smile faded. I wiped my hands and straightened my apron, trying to look a bit more put together. The door was slightly ajar. A woman stood outside. She wore a beige trench coat, her waist so tiny it looked like a thread. From head to toe, she was decked out in new stuff, including a new bag, new shoes, and a new hairstyle. I caught it in a single glance. Meanwhile, my old sweater was covered in pills, the cuffs were loose, and I'd been wearing it for eight years straight. "Hi, Laura." She greeted me with a polite, sweet smile. "I'm Camila Garcia." I froze for a second, and a word popped into my head. 'Mistress.'