Chapter 2

I said, "Mom's bowel and bladder habits are unpredictable. She could go at any time, so you need to check her every two hours. After you clean her up, make sure to apply diaper rash cream.

"The medicine cabinet has all the meds she needs, blood pressure, nerve support, blood vessel softeners. I've written down the dosages and instructions for everything."

My voice was steady and matter-of-fact, like I was just handing over a routine job.

Mallory and Orson were left speechless, just staring at me in shock.

They stood there with their mouths hanging open, looking at me like I was a complete stranger.

I gently placed the paper filled with notes on the coffee table and slid it over to Orson.

Then I looked up at him and gave him the brightest smile I'd had in twenty years.

I said, "Orson, since you've inherited everything, now it's your turn to fulfill your duty as a son and take care of Mom.

"From now on, she's your responsibility."

Orson's face cycled through a whole spectrum of colors, red, white, then green, his emotions all over the place.

His lips trembled, but he couldn't get a single word out for a long moment.

"Lindsay, what do you mean by that?" he finally stammered.

"It means I'm done taking care of her," I replied.

I turned and headed to the bedroom, pulling out my little suitcase.

There were just a few of my clothes inside.

I'd picked out everything in this house, but I didn't want to take a single thing with me.

I just felt like everything here was tainted.

Mallory finally snapped out of it and rushed over, grabbing my arm.

"Lindsay, cut it out. Orson wouldn't know the first thing about this!" he blurted out.

"Well, he can learn," I shot back.

I shook off his hand, my voice icy and emotionless.

"Just like me twenty years ago. Nobody showed me the ropes, but I still learned, didn't I?" I added.

Orson finally came to his senses and grabbed Mallory by the arm.

He said, "Mallory, just ignore her. She's just acting up, trying to mess with us.

"That's just how women are. Leave her alone for a few days. When she's broke, she'll come begging us."

His voice was full of contempt and certainty, that arrogant, controlling vibe made me want to puke.

I dragged my suitcase to the door, never once looking back.

I could feel their eyes on me, full of mixed emotions.

I opened the door and stepped out.

Right as the door swung shut, Orson's smug voice rang out. "Mallory, look at that. This is perfect. Tonight, I'm calling a few buddies over to throw a party!"

The door slammed shut with a heavy thud, sealing that so-called "home" out of my world.

The motion-sensor light in the hallway came on, casting a long, solitary shadow behind me.

My back was ramrod straight.

But at that moment, tears burst forth.

Twenty years of my sacrifice were wasted like that.

I didn't go running back to my parents.

I couldn't let my aging parents stress over me.

I found the cheapest motel across the street from the neighborhood and crashed there.

The room was tiny, and the air was thick with a damp, musty smell.

But I felt an incredible sense of peace.

I stood by the window, staring at that familiar apartment building across the street.

Our home was up on the fifth floor.

As night fell, the lights on the fifth floor switched on, shining brighter than I'd ever seen.

I could just make out the thumping music and rowdy laughter from a bunch of guys.

They were celebrating, gorging themselves on everything I'd worked for without ever having to lift a finger.

Lorelei had poured her entire life into this family. However, at that moment, she was left to rot alone in a pitch-black room. No one gave a damn about her.

I clenched my fists, my nails biting deep into her palms.

I knew that this show was just getting started.

I wanted to see how long Mallory and Orson can keep living this kind of life.