- 2.
I woke up to a face full of ice water.
Opening my eyes, I saw a little boy standing
over me, holding a water gun and looking
disgusted.
く
“Hey, who are you?”
“Why are you sleeping in my house?”
Water trickled down my forehead, ice cold.
I tried to sit up, but my stomach still hurt. I
just sat there, gasping.
“Tommy, be nice!” It was Debby, her voice
sweet and familiar.
I turned and saw her standing nearby, holding
the boy’s hand.
“I’m sorry, Lisa. He’s just a kid.”
But her voice changed.
“Why are you still here? If you want to stay,
L
that’s fine, but Mark and I are getting
married.”
“It would be awkward.”
I fought back the anger, glaring at her.
“I can see why you have a poorly raised son
when you have a no–morals mom.”
“You!” Tommy screamed.
“Don’t talk about my mom like that! She’s the
best!”
“What’s going on here?”
Mark came downstairs. When he looked at
Debby, he got all soft.
Г
He stood next to her, shooting me a warning
glare.
Debby looked down, acting all innocent.
“I just saw Lisa was still here. I said hi.”
“But she was mad and yelled at us.
Mark frowned, obviously worried about her. “I
told you not to mess with them.”
He raised his hand and slapped me across.
the face.
My head rang, my ears buzzing.
I almost fell, stumbling backward.
Г
I hit the cabinet. A vase crashed to the floor,
shattering.
Pieces of porcelain flew everywhere. A few
stuck in my leg.
But before I could catch my breath, Debby
shrieked.
“Ah!”
I turned and saw a thin line of blood running
down her leg.
It wasn’t deep, but it got everyone’s attention.
“Mommy, you’re hurt!”
Mark’s face tightened.
He walked over and picked her up, holding
her in his arms.
He asked if it hurt, his movements smooth
and natural. I wanted to laugh.
He’d never been so caring with me, even
when I was sick during my pregnancy.
“I’ll take you to the doctor. Don’t worry.”
He walked out, not even looking at me.
I grabbed the couch, trying to stand, but my
stomach wouldn’t let me.
Blood was dripping down my leg. I looked
down, my eyes wide with despair.
I walked towards the door and heard people
Neighbors stood there, talking about me.
Someone saw Mark carrying Debby.
“Hey, is everything okay Debby, what
happened to you?”
Mark stopped, looking right at them.
“Debby is my woman, and she is all that
matters to me. From today forward, no one is
allowed to speak ill of her, and that is the end
of the discussion.”
He spoke loudly, on purpose.
“What about Lisa?” Someone asked.
Mark hesitated but didn’t turn around.
“She is not worthy to be my woman, and I
have divorced her.”
Debby rested her head on his chest.
She smirked.
I looked at the crowd. They looked shocked
and disgusted.
I remembered Mark’s vows at our wedding.
“From this day forward, in sickness and in
health, I will be with you.”
Now, those words felt like knives.
