3
After work, I decided not to head home right away. After the morning’s drama, I wasn’t ready to face Amanda.
I called my mom to let her know I’d be late and told her not to wait for me for dinner.
Growing up, my dad ran the house like a dictator. As my brother got older, he naturally took the position of second–in–command.
I always thought my mom and I were on the same team. She was quiet, submissive, and rarely taken seriously.
When my brother dropped out of middle school, I’d often come home from school to find him and my dad sprawled on the couch, watching TV or playing video games. The floor was always littered with cigarette butts, sunflower seeds, and trash.
Meanwhile, my mom, with an apron tied around her waist and gloves on her hands, would be rushing around cleaning up after them. She’d sweep the floor, ask them to throw their trash into the bin, and then head back to the kitchen. But by the time she returned, the floor would be trashed all over again.
I felt sorry for her and helped with the housework whenever I could. When my dad hit her I’d step in to shield her, hoping to ease her suffering even a little.
So, when I won the iPad, I only told her, trusting she’d keep it between us. I even posted about it on my private social media, carefully excluding any family members.
But by the next morning, Amanda knew.
When my mom called to check on me during lunch, I couldn’t hold back my frustration.
“Mom, I told you not to say anything about the iPad! How does Amanda already know?”
She hesitated, then stammered, “Well, uh… last night when you told me about it, I think she overheard us talking.”
“And what, you just told her everything when she asked?” I snapped.
“I didn’t mean to! She said Ryan needed it for school, so I… I just mentioned it.”
I was so angry I couldn’t speak. After a pause, she added nervously, “Emily, if you don’t need it, why not let your nephew have it? Amanda may be a bit harsh, but Ryan’s education
is important…”
Ryan’s education? He was consistently at the bottom of his class and was always in trouble. Somehow, Amanda had convinced herself that an iPad was the magical solution to
his academic failures.
I ended the call, not wanting to hear more excuses.
When I finally got home that evening, the house was unusually quiet.
Normally, this was the time of night when Ryan would be glued to the couch, refusing to go to bed. Amanda would yell at him, and the two of them would argue until the entire
house was in chaos.
But tonight, only my parents were in the living room. My brother and his family were
nowhere to be seen.
I went to my room and decided it was time to sell the iPad. Things had been tight financially lately, and I’d been debating whether to keep it or sell it for cash. After Amanda’s stunt, the decision was easy–selling it was the way to go.
I opened my desk drawer to grab it… but it was gone.
The desk had a lock, but I’d lost the key years ago. I figured it was safe enough to leave the iPad there–after all, I was living in my own home. But now, it had vanished.
I immediately knew who was responsible.
Ever since moving back in, I’d noticed my things going missing–half–used skincare products, makeup I rarely wore, clothes I didn’t touch, snacks I’d bought for myself. None of it was expensive, so I’d let it slide.
But this? Stealing the iPad crossed the line.
Fuming, I stormed into Amanda’s room without knocking.
She and Ryan were lounging on the bed, and the moment she saw me, she instinctively pushed something down onto the mattress.
It was too late. I’d already seen it.
“Don’t you knock?” Amanda snapped, trying to go on the offensive.
“When have you ever knocked before coming into my room?” I shot back.
Her face twisted in indignation. “Watch your tone! Don’t forget whose house you’re living
in!”
“Whose house‘? This is my house!” I shouted. “And while we’re at it, stop taking my things. Give me back the iPad!”
Amanda’s laugh was cold and mocking. “Your house? What a joke. No wonder your
husband left you. Married for three years and you couldn’t even have a kid!”
I froze, stunned by the cruelty of her words. She didn’t stop there.
“Women like you–useless and barren–don’t deserve a place in any family. You’re lucky we even let you stay here!”
The sheer audacity of her words made me laugh bitterly. I shook my head, regaining
some composure.
“I don’t have time for this. Just give me the iPad.”
She glanced at the device on the bed, then sneered. “How do you know it’s yours? I just bought this today.”
“Bought it?” I said, smirking. “Every iPad has a serial number. I took a photo of mine the day I got it. Let’s see if it matches.”
I pulled out my phone and started dialing. “I’ll let the police sort this out.”
23:04 Fri, Jan 10 GU
F00%
Amanda panicked. She lunged at me, trying to grab my phone, and in the scuffle, it fell to the floor, the screen shattering on impact.
“Call the cops, huh? Go ahead!” she screamed, grabbing a fistful of my hair. “I’ll beat you to death before they even get here!”
The rage boiling inside me gave me strength. I shoved her off me, and she stumbled back, falling against the bed.
Ryan jumped up, pointing a finger in my face. “How dare you touch my mom!”
At fourteen, he was already tall and broad–a physical match for me. Despite everything I’d done for him, he now looked at me with pure hatred.
braced myself as he raised his fist, but before he could take a swing, my parents rushed
into the room.
“Are you all trying to destroy this house?!” my dad bellowed.
Amanda, still shaken, ran to my parents, sobbing dramatically.
“Look what your daughter did to me!” she wailed. “She attacked me and threatened to call the police! She’s out of control!”
I opened my mouth to defend myself, but before I could get a word out, my dad slapped me across the face.
The force of it left me stunned, my cheek burning as tears blurred my vision.
“Do you do anything besides disgrace this family?” he growled. “If you cause one more problem, you’re out of this house for good.”
