Chapter 2

Mom's expression was unsettling.

Mom yanked me into the car so hard that my head hit the window several times, each time with a dull thud.

I looked at Mom, my eyes brimming with tears.

She didn't even notice the bump on my head.

If this had happened before, Mom would've hugged me tight, feeling sorry for me.

But this time, there was no tenderness in her eyes, just a seething rage.

Mom glared at me. "Charlotte, were you sent by God to punish me?

"Why do you have to be such a useless idiot? Why do you have to be so sickly?"

She was repeating exactly what Dad said.

I stared at her, totally lost.

I reached out, wanting to smooth the frown on her brow, but accidentally hit the radio button instead.

After a burst of static, the news anchor's crisp voice came through the speakers.

"Tonight's report. There have been several recent cases of missing teenagers in the southern district of Bayview."

Mom's expression froze for a moment.

When she turned and saw me, she slapped herself, as if mocking her own reaction.

I had no idea how much time had passed before Mom finally stopped the car.

She yanked me out, her whole body trembling.

The biting wind slipped down my collar, sending a chill through me.

As she was about to drive off, I grabbed onto the car window and pressed the pearl bracelet into her hand.

"Mom, I'm sorry. I didn't protect Samuel.

"It's your birthday today, Mom. You should be happy," I said softly.

For as long as I could remember, there was always a shadow in Mom's eyes.

It wasn't until Samuel was born that her eyes finally sparkled with life again.

Samuel was always sweet and healthy, and when he grinned, his smile would reveal two cute dimples.

Everyone couldn't help but love him.

Mom lost it, hurling the pearl necklace into the air. She collapsed onto the steering wheel, sobbing and laughing in turns.

After a while, I heard her voice, rough and broken.

"Charlotte, I've given you everything I owe you. Isn't that enough?" She choked out.

My eyes stung, and when I reached up to rub them, my hand came away wet with tears.

"Don't cry, Mom. I'll do whatever you say from now on.

"I won't run off anymore, and I promise I won't snatch Samuel's toys. Please don't be mad at me," I pleaded.

I knew Mom was so tired because of me.

Before I could finish, Mom interrupted me, her voice rising in a furious shout.

"Charlotte, don't you get it? I wish I'd never had you. I regret bringing you into this world.

"So long as you're alive, I'll never be happy.

"You've already dragged us down enough. Are you going to drag Samuel down, too? Why don't you just drop dead?" she screamed.

The pearl bracelet snapped in mid-air, and the pearls bounced off my face.

It stung, worse than any surgery I'd ever had.

My mind started to drift, and those happy memories felt like they happened in another lifetime.

Before I became like this, my mother was always smiling.

Even though there was always that lingering sadness in her eyes, she'd still scoop me up and twirl me around whenever I got straight A's.

Whenever other kids tried to bully me, she'd step right in front, standing between me and them, protecting me.

But now, that smile was nowhere to be found.

I didn't really get what Mom meant when she said dead. All I understood was that she said she'd be happy if I weren't here.

If that was what it took for Mom to be happy, then I was willing to be dead.

I gently patted Mom's shoulder through the car window, trying to comfort her like she used to comfort me when I was little.

"I won't be a burden to you and Dad, and I won't hold Samuel back either.

"Don't cry, Mom. If it'll make you happy, I'll drop dead," I whispered.

Mom paused, her face relaxing for a brief moment.

I reached out to wipe away her tears, but as soon as my hand touched her warm cheek, she suddenly clutched my wrist.

She looked like she wanted to say something else, but just then, the phone in the center console buzzed.

It was Grandma, calling to say Samuel's fever had gone down.

Without another word, Mom slammed her foot on the gas and sped off to the hospital, not even glancing back.

The sudden movement threw me to the ground, and I banged my nose, blood starting to trickle out.

"Mom, you didn't take me with you.

"Mom, you left me behind," I whispered.

She said she'd never leave me.

Three years ago, I was kidnapped.

It happened on a night just like this, so dark, it felt like the whole world was closing in.

They kept dragging me from place to place, always on the move, so nobody would catch us.

When morning came, I saw Mom with her hair all tangled and Dad with blood on his clothes.

They pulled me into a crushing hug, their scalding tears dripping onto my neck.

Mom's eyes were swollen and red from crying, her whole face twisted with fear.

Her voice shook, and so did her hands.

"Charlotte, we're so sorry. We got here too late.

"Don't worry, t-this will never happen again. From now on, we'll always protect you," Mom and Dad stammered.

I stumbled to my feet, staring at the pearls scattered all over the ground.

I bent down and picked them up, tucking them into my pocket.

I thought Mom was just mad right now.

When morning came, she'd come back for me.

Once Mom calmed down, she'd definitely accept my gift.

But I waited and waited, and Mom just never showed up.