2
I bought my ticket to the UK, and he came
home. He didn’t see me waiting with his
L
hangover cure, and he immediately started
yelling.
“Lily, where’s my hangover cure?!”
He acted like he could boss around the family
maid. He’d just come from a business party,
reeking of alcohol. His childhood sweetheart,
Sarah, was draped all over him. Behind them
was my son, Alex.
This party was supposed to be for me. Last
time, I cried, questioning him. He sneered,
impatiently:
“Lily, everyone else brings a date. You’re just
the maid. You’re an embarrassment.”
“You’re nothing more than Alex’s mother.
Don’t overstep your boundaries.”
This time, I ignored them, preparing to go to
my room. He saw my laptop, full of English
text, and asked hesitantly,
“What are you looking at? English? You can
read that, you hick?”
<
Ignoring him, I walked away. Sarah stepped in
front of me, smiling sweetly.
gl
“I had so much to drink for Derek. I’m dizzy. I
want a mango crepe. Lily, could you make it
for me?”
Last time, he imprisoned me. He chained me
to the bed. I had to ring a bell to go to the
bathroom. Sarah visited, with a box cutter.
She crushed my hand with her heels, enjoying
my screams. She carved a “slut” into my arm,
laughing maniacally. He only said her taste
was impeccable.
Looking at her ring, the same as his, my heart
shattered. “I’m allergic to mangoes. Order it
yourself.”
He lost his patience, grabbing my arm and throwing me to the floor. “Lily, what are you doing? Sarah asks you to do something, you
do it! She’s the future Mrs. Grant! Don’t
forget, we’re supporting you, you leach!
<
You’re lucky to be a maid!”
My head hit the cabinet, a searing pain. But
my heart ached more. In the small town, he
once bought me a mango cake for my
birthday. I was allergic. He rushed me to the
hospital for two hours. He promised he’d
never let me see a mango again, that it would
mean he’d never marry me.
Now, he faked amnesia. But his promise
came true, ironically. He was all about Sarah,
forgetting our six years.
“You’re a wicked woman, bullying Sarah!” My
leg felt a sharp pain. Alex had a fork. He was
scratching my leg. Blood welled up. He was
thrilled. “Wicked woman! I’ll punish you for
bullying Sarah!”
Sarah giggled, praising Alex as her brave
knight. Derek watched me in pain, smiling.
Last time, I wouldn’t leave. Now, my last
shred of love for Alex crumbled. This was the
<
son I almost died birthing in the small town
hospital for nine hours, without anesthesia.
He grew up to despise me and kill me. Now,
he hurt me for a stranger.
They finally finished venting on me and went
to the master bedroom. Intimacy. A child
clinging. I was alone. I cleaned my wounds
and packed my bags for my trip. Not much to
take, just clothes. That’s all six years with him
amounted to.
