Chapter 2

My mom said, "You say Matthew doesn't care about you? Mabel's stomach hurts, and she's bawling her eyes out. As her aunt, have you even bothered to check on her?"

Aunt Tanya scoffed. "A worthless girl like her? Why should I waste my time?"

Aunt Tanya spat on the ground, then grabbed Mom's hair. "You think you can yell at me? You gave birth to a money-drainer and an idiot. If I haven't thrown you out yet, it's only because I feel like being nice."

Aunt Tanya went full banshee, and she and Mom started clawing at each other right there.

Dad, who'd always tolerated Aunt Tanya's antics, finally snapped when he saw her lay hands on Mom.

He rushed over, yanked Aunt Tanya away, practically tossed her aside, and shielded Mom. "Show some respect, Tanya. She's your sister-in-law!" he shouted.

Seeing Dad get all fierce, Aunt Tanya dramatically dropped to the floor and wailed. "Dad, Mom, look at your son! He's so ungrateful, forgetting all those things you told him before you passed. He's siding with someone who's not even family and bullying me!"

Watching Aunt Tanya throw her tantrum, I stopped crying and went over to hold Mom's hand. Mom was shocked to see me suddenly calm down.

"Mabel, your stomach doesn't hurt anymore?" Mom asked, surprised.

I nodded. "It doesn't hurt anymore."

Then, with my eyes still red and full of grievance, I looked up at Dad and asked, "Dad, am I really just a worthless girl?"

Dad rushed to comfort me, "Don't listen to your aunt. She's just being mean."

I lowered my head. "But Aunt Tanya said I'm just a worthless girl, and that Spencer is a fool who'll never find a wife.

"She even said when I grow up, she'll sell me off to that mute kid from the next village, just to get some cash so Anthony can afford a bride."

Dad was stunned, and Mom was furious. She pointed at Aunt Tanya sprawled on the floor and yelled, "Mabel's just a little kid, and you're already plotting against her? What kind of person are you?"

Aunt Tanya didn't even flinch. She shot back, "Was I wrong? Didn't you give birth to a fool? And Mabel is just a worthless girl. She's just there to help my son Anthony get enough money for a wife when she's older."

Mom was so furious that she was shaking, and she snapped at Dad, "We're going home now!"

Mom had always been gentle and kind, even with Aunt Tanya. She'd always bit her tongue and tolerated her nonsense, but this was the first time she'd ever blown up like this.

Once we got home, Mom finally let it all out, pouring out every bit of frustration she'd bottled up over the years.

She snapped, "You always said your parents died young, and you and Tanya had to rely on each other, so you felt responsible for her. I get that. But look at her now, listen to the things she says!"

"Mabel is your daughter, and Spencer is your son. Tanya calls your son a fool, says your daughter is worthless, and even wants to sell Mabel off for a bride price just so her son can get married. So, where do you stand now?"

Dad sat at the doorway, head down, puffing away nonstop.

Spencer waddled over and grabbed my hand with his pudgy little fingers. "Mabel, why are Mom and Dad fighting?" he asked.

I looked at Spencer. His hand was so soft in mine, and suddenly I felt tears prick my eyes.

In the previous timeline, after Aunt Tanya took us in, Spencer's hands were never this soft again. They were so skinny, just like mine.

Back then, holding hands just felt like bone against bone.

I reached out and gently hugged Spencer. "Don't worry, Spencer. Mom and Dad aren't really fighting."

They really weren't fighting. Mom was the only one venting, while Dad just sat there, chain-smoking and saying nothing.

Something like this wasn't nearly enough to make Dad give up on Aunt Tanya, the sister he'd raised since they were kids.

His sense of responsibility for her was just too strong.

If it weren't for that, he wouldn't have met such a tragic end in the previous timeline.

Mom kept talking, trying to get through to Dad, but he just wouldn't listen. She was so upset and hurt that she ended up burying her face in her hands and crying.

When Dad saw Mom crying, he finally reacted. He got up, gently pulled her into his arms, and said, "I'm sorry. I'll always look out for Mabel and Spencer, but Tanya's still my sister.

"No matter what she says, I can't just walk away from her. I'm her brother, that's just how it is."

Dad had said he was Aunt Tanya's brother many times.

Every time he got hurt because of Aunt Tanya and wound up in the hospital, Mom would beg him to stop getting involved.

But Dad always stuck to his guns. "She's my sister."

And in the end, those words cost him his life in the previous timeline.

If Dad had known Aunt Tanya would end up being the one who killed him and Mom, and that after they were gone, Spencer and I would be abused by her until we died miserable deaths, would he still have called her his sister?

*****

That night, Mom and Dad didn't go to bed until really late.

Spencer was already asleep, but I just lay there wide awake. After traveling back in time, I might look like a six-year-old, but inside, I still had all the memories of my fifteen-year-old self.