- 5.
My room was just like I’d left it.
At dinner, Carol, my stepmom, kept putting
food on my plate, all my favorites.
She looked at me, worried. “You’re so thin.
You must not have been eating well out
there.”
I used to think she was just trying to get on
my good side.
Maybe she was just being nice.
I smiled at her. “Thanks, Carol.”
It was the first time I’d been nice to her. She
looked surprised, her fork freezing in midair.
Dad frowned, asking carefully, “Did Mark hurt
you? Why did you come back alone?”
I told them about the divorce, leaving out the
worst details. Even so, Dad teared up.
Carol started crying.
く
“How could he do that? You didn’t have to
marry him!”
Dad slammed his fist on the table, yelling,
“I’m not letting him get away with this! He
messed with my daughter!”
I ate in silence, trying to say something to
comfort them.
My throat tightened, and tears streamed
down my face.
How could I swallow?
I’d died in that cold barn.
I heard my baby crying, but I was too weak to
help him…
く
I heard my baby crying, but I was too weak to
help him…
It still made me sick with despair.
I’d been smart enough to keep my spot in
college.
I’d just taken a leave of absence.
When I reenrolled and walked onto campus,
surrounded by students, I realized I was only
20 years old, I had my whole life ahead of me.
I was at the front gate when Mark showed up.
“Lisa, listen, Debby and I are just pretending.”
“My heart is with you. Tell your dad to back
off.”
<
Dad had gotten involved.
“Mark, are you serious?”
He stepped closer, trying to take my hand. I
recoiled.
“Debby needs help. I have to.”
“We have nothing to talk about.”
I glanced at my watch. “I’m late for class.”
He frowned, his voice incredulous.
“You’re going back to college? You’re too old!
And you’re pregnant!”
I stepped back, disgusted.
He hadn’t even noticed my stomach was flat.
“The baby’s gone. We’re divorced. What I do
is none of your business.”
His eyes widened. “You…you got rid of the
baby? Why?”
I didn’t bother arguing.
He wasn’t worth my anger, pain, or pity.
“The day you carried Debby to the clinic, it
fell out from you pushing me, so don’t say
you didn’t know.”
His face froze. “No, I didn’t push you that
hard, are you lying?”
He was pathetic.
<
He was pathetic.
“The kid is gone, you pushed me over, get the
picture.”
He was selfish and weak.
I walked around him, heading for class.
He grabbed my arm.
“I know you’re mad, but tell your dad to leave
me alone!”
I stopped, looking at him coldly.
“I don’t know what my dad’s doing.”
“You need to talk to him, not me. Now, let go
of me.”
I pulled away and walked to class.
He didn’t try to stop me, afraid of making
things worse.
He didn’t give up. He went to my house with
gifts for my dad.
When I got home, Dad was throwing Mark
and his presents out the door.
“Get out! You’re not my son–in–law!”
He tried to explain, “Mr. Johnson, my
stepsister, she needs my help.”
“Lisa only wants to help her with me, that’s
all.”
Dad knew Mark was lying.
“You made my daughter miserable!
“There is no stepsister that matters more
than my daughter.”
I went to Dad, feeling warm.
Mark begged me. “Lisa, help me!”
“I need the military!”
I glared at him. “You’re Debby’s husband, not
mine.”
He stuttered, “She doesn’t have it in writing!”
“Maybe we should take the next step!”
He tried to take my hand.
く
Dad spat at him. “Get out! Carol can take
care of me!” He pulled me inside.
Dad hugged me. “Don’t worry, honey. I’ll
protect you.”
I cried, feeling safe.
I was free of Mark.
