- 2.
Hazel was bringing my son back home in the
morning, and I was sitting at the vanity mirror
applying make–up.
The woman staring back at me was sunken-
eyed, lifeless, a walking ghost.
I numbly slathered on foundation, trying to
hide the ugliness, layering it on until it looked
even worse.
Hazel’s heels clicked as she came in, wearing
a flowing dress, looking elegant as ever.
She sneered at me. “Trying to polish a turd?”
Then, she patted Leo, standing next to her,
く
and glanced at me.
“Do you know who this is?”
When I turned to face him, Leo flinched and
buried himself in Hazel’s arms.
“Monster!”
“Don’t be silly, that’s your mom. Take a good
look at what your mom looks like, and see if
you still miss her.”
Leo shook his head, crying.
“No! My mom is not only crazy, but ugly!
She’s not my mom… I don’t want her to be my
mom!”
My heart ached.
I wanted to reach out and hold him, but I
didn’t have the strength to move.
Now my only family didn’t want anything to
do with me.
That was my son, the one I almost died
bringing into this world.
Leo was so scared of me he wouldn’t stop
<
crying.
Hazel grabbed his arm, looking annoyed.
“Crybaby, what are you crying about? It’s
awful!”
I shoved her away, my weak body straining to
yell at her.
“What are you doing?!”
Just then, Ryan came home.
I heard his footsteps when the door opened.
Hazel glared at me, then ran to greet Ryan, all
smiles.
She looked radiant.
“Honey, I heard your wife was back, so I
brought Leo over to see her, but you’ll never
guess… your wife attacked me as soon as I
got here. She says I stole her child.”
Ryan frowned, looking concerned at Hazel.
“Are you okay? Do you feel sick?”
Then, Ryan turned to me, glaring with anger.
“Blair, three years in that place, and it looks
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like it wasn’t enough!”
I reached out to touch Leo’s face, but he
swatted my hand away. He ran to Hazel and
wrapped his arms around her.
My hand hung in the air, frozen.
The last glimmer of light in my eyes died.
Ryan walked toward me, his leather shoes
clicking louder and louder.
My body trembled uncontrollably, and my
head dropped.
He grabbed my chin, his long fingers tilting
my face up.
I was shaking uncontrollably. My pale lips.
trembled, and a few tears trickled from my
lifeless eyes.
When he saw my face clearly, a flicker of
hesitation crossed his eyes.
But quickly, I saw only disgust in his
expression.
“What kind of act are you putting on now?
<
Don’t think I don’t know what you’re up to.
You found out Hazel is pregnant and you tried
to hurt her. After three years, you’re still so
petty.
“The director already told me about the
things you got up to at that hospital.
Sneaking out to sleep with those crazies,
turning yourself into that thing, do you think I
feel sorry for you?”
He slapped me across the face.
“Despicable!”
He grabbed a napkin from the table, wiped
his hands, and tossed it in the trash.
His disgust was clear.
That night, he made the staff watch me as I
knelt outside all night.
