Not The Substitute Anymore

Synopsis

I was six months pregnant the day Michael Reed threw me out. Over a bowl of soup. My sister Emily Summers came over for dinner. I spent the whole afternoon cooking, heavy with my belly, and made four dishes and a soup. She knocked the soup bowl over, and it splashed on her expensive silk dress. "Sophie, you did that on purpose!" she shrieked. Michael rushed out of the study, saw Emily pointing at me with red-rimmed eyes, and slapped me without a word. I held my cheek, stunned. "Emily rarely visits, and this is how you treat her?" he said, glaring at me with a disgust I'd never seen. "She's your own sister!" "It was just the soup..." I tried to explain. "Enough!" Michael cut me off, grabbing my arm and dragging me toward the door. "Get out and clear your head." My six-month belly weighed on my back, making it ache. I tried to pull free, but he was too strong. The door slammed behind me. I stood there in my homewear and slippers, the November wind biting. I didn't bring my phone, my wallet, or my keys. I stood at the door and heard Emily inside say, "Michael, don't blame Sophie. She probably didn't mean it." Michael said, "You always defend her. When has she ever appreciated it?" I stood there, cold wind slipping down my collar. He forgot I was six months pregnant. He forgot it was barely above freezing out here. He didn't even think to ask me: what really happened?