10
Lily returned home after three months of mandatory counseling. She sensed the
change immediately. Mom and Dad, once so doting, ignored her. She headed for her
bedroom.
“That’s your sister’s room. Yours is next door.” Mom painted to the small, dark room.
“No! I want my room! You can’t just change my room without asking!” Lily yelled.
“Did you ask Anna before you bullied her at school?” Mom’s words silenced Lily.
She became invisible in the house. Finally, she
snapped.
“Anna’s dead! Dead! Don’t you get it?!”
“Why do we keep having her favorite foods?
I’m sick of it! She’s dead! She can’t eat it!”
Slap!
“Eat it or leave!” Mom screamed, throwing
open the front door.
Lily burst into tears and ran out.
Ironic. They never treated me so well when I
was alive.
Mom sat at the table, picking at her food,
tears rolling down her face. She wiped them
away and took another bite. “Anna loved this.
I made it myself. She would have liked it…”
Then she put her head down and sobbed.
something.
I saw Lily in the park, surrounded by a group
of kids.
“Lily! Long time no see! Did you miss us?” One girl grabbed Lily’s hair. “Remember how
you treated me?”
“And me! You owe me, Lily!” Another girl
took out scissors and started cutting Lily’s
hair.
“And me! Me too!”
They swarmed her, Lily’s screams echoing through the park. “Stop it! I’ll tell the
teacher!”
“Please! Let me go! I’m sorry! I won’t do it
<
“Please! Let me go! I’m sorry! I won’t do it
again!”
“I’m sorry! Please stop!”
Her face was bruised and swollen, her hair a
mess, her clothes torn.
She came home, opened her mouth to speak,
but Mom silently retreated to her room. Lily
stared at the closed door, then went to her
small, dark room.
What goes around comes around.
The pain I endured was now Lily’s.
Mom looked beautiful today. She’d even
made Lily breakfast. “Lily, come home early.
112
“”
<
And snacks and fruits, all the things I loved
but never got because Lily didn’t like them.
When Lily got home, the cake was on the
table, candles lit. Mom smiled. “Lily, honey!
Come blow out the candles!”
Lily made a wish, but Mom stopped her
before she could blow out the candles. “Lily,
let’s save them for Anna. We need to find
her…ask for her forgiveness…okay?” Mom’s
eyes were bright, almost manic.
Lily pulled away. “You’re crazy! If you want to
die, do it yourself! I’m not dying with you!
You’re insane!”
Mom stared at Lily, then burst out laughing. “Ha ha ha…Lily…we killed Anna…we have to
دو
<
IVIUITI Slai tu al Lily, when puisi uut lauyniny.
“Ha ha ha…Lily…we killed Anna…we have to
ask for her forgiveness…”
“You’re crazy! What are you doing?! I don’t
want to die! Tell me!” Lily clawed at the
locked door. Before Lily arrived, Mom had
sealed the windows and turned on the gas.
“Anna…Mommy brought Lily to apologize…
please forgive us…”
I floated in front of Mom. This time, she saw
- me. She reached out. “Anna? You’re here?
You forgive me? I know I was wrong… I’m so
sorry…” She looked at the table, her face
falling when I didn’t follow her gaze. “Anna…
you still don’t forgive me…but I really am
sorry…
**
<
sorry…” She looked at the table, her face,
falling when I didn’t follow her gaze. “Anna…
you still don’t forgive me…but I really am
sorry…”
I leaned close to her ear. “Mom, I’ll never
forgive you. Never.”
Her hand dropped. Her eyes locked on mine.
“”
(c
‘Anna…please…I’m so sorry…
My form began to shimmer, lighter, freer.
I turned and floated away, towards Grandma, the only one who’d ever loved me. I could
hear her calling me. I felt no regret as I left
them behind.
