Chapter 3

"Harold and I have to study. We don't have time to deal with this pointless stuff," Roxanne said.

I laughed. "So you guys get the cash, and I do all the work? What am I, your free nanny or something?

"You're indeed a Waymon University master's grad, sharp as a tack. Your scheme is so obvious."

Roxanne's voice shot up. "Sonia, don't get cocky. Mom raised you all these years, and now you think you're all grown up and can just fly off on your own, huh?"

"Raised me?" I gripped my phone tight. "Her way of raising me was making me pick up trash to pay for my schoolbooks, making me eat leftovers and do all the housework.

"She gave all the demolition compensation to you guys, and now she expects me to take care of her when she's old?

"Tell me, is that fair?"

"Fair?" Roxanne sneered, "The world's never been fair. You graduated from a lousy university. How much do you even pull in each month?

"I've got a finance master's from Waymon University. My starting salary blows yours out of the water. Harold's a Tremaine University PhD. He's headed for a top university or a research institute. His social status will be way out of your league.

"Mom spent her money on the ones who are worth more. What's wrong with that?"

Every word made my heart sink a little more.

So to them, people really did come with a price tag.

I shot back, "So, I'm the one who's supposed to get thrown under the bus, just because I don't matter, right?"

Roxanne sounded totally fed up. "Yeah, whatever, you get the point. Quit wasting time and hurry up and get over here!"

"I'm not going," I said flatly, not budging an inch.

"What did you just say?" Roxanne snapped.

"I said, I'm not going," I spelled out every word. "You took the money, so you deal with her. After she kicked me out last night, I don't have a mom anymore."

Roxanne started cursing me out on the other end. "Sonia, you little shit.

"If you don't show up today, don't even think about coming back home anymore."

I let out a dry laugh. "I never wanted to go back anyway."

With that, I hung up.

Then I blocked her number.

I barely slept last night, and my head was pounding. I rolled over, wanting to get some more shut-eye.

Just as I was drifting off, my phone rang again.

This time, it was Aunt Clara calling.

I was so fed up I almost hit decline.

But Aunt Clara was always pretty good to me. And I guess I was hoping for something, though I wasn't even sure what, so I picked up anyway.

"Sonia," Aunt Clara said, her voice a bit raspy. "It's just after Christmas, and you're out there all alone. Are you staying warm?"

I felt myself relax a little and answered quietly, "I'm fine."

She paused, her voice growing softer. "Your mom took a fall and can't get out of bed. Can you come home and take care of her?"

The little bit of warmth I'd felt vanished like a bubble popped by a needle. I didn't even know what to say.

"I know the whole money thing's been eating at you," she sighed. "But Sonia, you only have one mom. Can you really walk away? What if someday you look back and regret it?"

So she was here to guilt-trip me too.

My heart instantly turned cold.

I didn't want to say anything anymore.

Only our breathing filled the silence on the line.

"Just think it over. If you need anything, call me," she said.

She let out a sigh and hung up.

I gripped my phone, sat there in silence for ages, then blocked every relative's number.

I took a deep breath and pulled open the curtains.

Outside, everything was blanketed in white.

From today on, I would live for myself.

*****

That afternoon, some of the supermarkets in this small town finally opened up, so I went out to pick up some groceries.

As I walked out with my shopping bags, I suddenly heard a familiar voice call out, "Sonia!"

My heart lurched.

There was Uncle Devin, sitting on his motorbike a short distance away, smoking a cigarette.

I turned and walked off, quickening my pace until I was almost running.

"Sonia! Stop right there," Uncle Devin shouted after me.

I slipped into a narrow alley, my heart thudding like a drum.

As I tried to catch my breath, Uncle Jeffrey was already waiting at the other end, cutting me off.

I swore inwardly.

They closed in on me, boxing me in.

Uncle Devin snatched the bag of groceries right out of my hands, and my purchases spilled everywhere.

"So you think you're something now, huh? Not even coming home?" Uncle Devin glared at me. "Let's go. You're coming back with us."

"I'm not going back," I yelled, yanking my hand free.

"You don't get a choice," Uncle Jeffrey barked, grabbing my arm and twisting it so hard it hurt like hell.

They dragged me off, kicking and struggling, no matter how hard I tried to get away.

Once we got home, Mom was lying on the couch, munching on chips.

She didn't even look up, just kept eating her seeds.

"Laura, we got her back for you," Uncle Jeffrey said, shoving me forward.