3
Two days before my flight, I went to the bank.
A mall mascot stopped me. It was Mark, a
neighbor from my hometown.
“Lily! Long time no see! When are you coming
home?”
I was an orphan, only having family because
of Derek. I left everything for him. It was a
mistake.
I forced a smile. “I’m not coming back.”
Г
He smiled. “I used to have a crush on you.
Then you got Derek. I’m happy for you. Come
on, I’ll treat you to dinner.” He asked his
manager for time off. He earned $100 a day
as a mascot, but he was treating me to a
$500 dinner. I said yes.
Next to the restaurant was the city’s fanciest
bridal shop. He’d promised me the best
wedding, a grand celebration. I glanced inside
–
O Derek and Sarah, and Alex.
I froze. He saw me and Mark. He punched
Mark. He yelled at me: “Lily, you’re so
restless, finding other men! This trash, you
like this kind of man?! Of course, a poor
country woman, you only deserve this kind of
boyfriend!”
“Derek, you’re crazy!” I helped Mark up,
shielding him. Mark was shocked.
My eyes welled up. I stared at them in their
wedding attire. “Are you playing house? Do I
く
need to send you a wedding gift?”
He was stunned, then roared. “It’s all because
you’re poor and embarrassing! Alex wants a
beautiful mom. Sarah is fulfilling Alex’s wish
with this photo shoot. Don’t think everyone is
as trashy as you! You think everyone is a
whore like you?!”
Alex held onto Sarah’s dress. “You’re ugly!
You’re not my mom. Can you just get out of
our lives! I want Sarah to be my mom!”
Sarah smiled triumphantly. “Lily, old women
should accept they are old and get some
botox.”
My knuckles were white, my nails digging into
my palms, but I felt no pain.
“Derek,” I inhaled deeply, my voice cold. “Who
do you think you are? You are nothing to me
but my son’s father. You have no right to
control me. You guys do what you want.
Don’t disgust me”
<
“And you, Sarah, love your second–hand man,
go ahead!”
I helped Mark leave. Behind us, Derek’s
shouting and Sarah’s fake consolation faded.
Mark said, “Lily, don’t listen to them, you’re
the best.”
Everyone in my hometown thought so. But
with Derek, I was trash.
This life, I won’t let him hurt me again.
