Chapter 4

"Your dad says I run this house now. Better get used to calling me 'Mom' soon," Tracy said.

Tracy walked over, picked up the ugly plant, and scoffed, "Ugh, this eyesore again. I tossed it out last time with the rest. Did you take it back? Why even keep this?"

I grabbed for it, yelling, "That's Mom's. You can't touch it."

Tracy lifted the plant high, smirking, "Oh? Trying to protect it, huh?" She let go, and the plant crashed to the floor, the pot shattering and dirt flying everywhere.

Then she picked up the watering can and threw it down hard, splashing dirty water all over me.

"Your mom ditched you, so why bother keeping all this trash? Now I'm in charge of this house—whatever I say goes," Tracy barked.

Her voice kept rising, and I found myself inching backward until my back hit the railing.

Meanwhile, the call to Dad was still ongoing in my pocket, hidden from Tracy.

I'd started dialing as soon as Tracy walked in.

I remembered, in my last life, Tracy would tear up my schoolbooks like it was nothing, sneering that I was just deadweight—a money drain.

She'd always push me into a corner, just like now, repeating, "Your mom ditched you. You're just a stray, nobody wants."

This was the third floor. In my previous lifetime, Tracy tried to grab the money Dad handed me, and during the fight, she accidentally shoved me straight off the third-floor balcony.

Good thing a tree branch broke my fall, or I'd be dead. Still, I ended up with a busted leg, bawling so hard in the hospital I could barely catch my breath.

Meanwhile, Tracy played the pitiful victim for Dad, and he just tore into me, calling me a troublemaker who only upset Tracy.

"Don't come any closer!" I shouted, voice shaking.

I watched Tracy's footsteps draw nearer and nearer.

If I ended up falling again, and there was proof, Dad might finally see the person Tracy really was.

Maybe he'd freak out over the mess and just let Mom take me back.

Then I'd finally get to be with Mom again.

Tracy thought I was scared, and her grin got even nastier. "What, still got some attitude? Listen, your dad only cares about me now. Even if you dropped dead, he wouldn't even care—"

But before she could finish, I threw open the window and climbed out onto the ledge.

Tracy shrieked, "Are you insane?"

She lunged at me to grab me, but I just leaned back and let myself fall.

The wind howled in my ears, and memories from my previous life crashed over me. I remembered how Mom held me when I was bruised and battered, sobbing so hard she shook all over.

She blamed herself, her voice trembling. "Eileen, I shouldn't have left you. I should've never let you go. It's all my fault."

It hurt so bad, Mom.

Through the haze, I caught a glimpse of someone rushing toward me.

She screamed my name, voice torn with heartbreak. "Eileen!"

*****

I had a dream.

In it, Dad was kind to Mom, and the three of us were happy.

Dad wasn't mean to Mom anymore, and she stopped crying.

Everything stayed that way, until Tracy came along.

She stole Dad away and kicked Mom out of the house.

Mom and I wandered for ages. At one point, I tugged her sleeve, saying I wanted a lollipop.

She told me to stay put and crossed the street to buy one. When she came back, a car came barreling through and slammed into her, tossing her up into the air.

The lollipop flew and landed right by my feet.

Mom lay in a pool of blood, a single tear slipping down her cheek as she stared at me. All she could manage was a whisper. "Don't look."

I screamed in my dream, "No!"

"Mom!" I jolted awake with a shout.

Next thing I knew, I was wrapped in a familiar embrace, and tears were streaming down my face before I even realized it.

"Eileen, where does it hurt? Tell me, please. Don't scare me," Mom said. Her voice shook, and so did her hands as she held me close.

"Mom, why are you back?" I whispered.

"Silly Eileen, I saw your letter," Mom murmured, carefully letting me go. Her eyes were so swollen and red it was almost scary. "I'm so sorry. I never should've left you here. It was all my fault, baby."

Mom had already found the letter I stashed in her suitcase long ago. She'd been hiding from Dad this whole time, waiting for a chance to come get me. And today, as she finally made it into our neighborhood, she saw me fall from the balcony.

Mom sniffled. "How silly are you, Eileen?"

Just a couple words and she'd already started choking up, tears threatening to spill again—some things never changed.

"How could I ever let you protect me? You're just six years old. I should've..."

She tried again and again, but every time her words caught. She kept wiping her tears, but they kept coming.

Finally, she couldn't hold it anymore and just broke down, sobbing her heart out.

"Eileen, I should've been the one protecting you," Mom sobbed.

"I'm sorry, Mom," I mumbled. I clutched her icy hand to my heart. "I'm happy just seeing you again."

In my previous life, I never got to say goodbye to her properly, not even in my dreams.

This time, I won't let that happen.