a steady rhythm that was the only comfort I needed. The next morning, fueled by coffee and a grim sense of determination, I found a small, two-bedroom apartment for rent in a decent ne

tion, of building a fortress for

dsheet, when my phone buzzed. It was Mark. A knot of dread tightened

ell

preamble. "The house is a mess, there' s no food in

of his entitlemen

me, Mark. That is no

eed to come over and make her some soup. And on your way, pick up that expensive b

t smile a stark contrast to the ugliness coming through the pho

No

his voice rising in disbelief. "She'

daughter almost die," I said, my voice as cold as ice. "And you, her son, can

stunned silence, the

with rage. "You think you' re so high and mighty no

f insults and curses designed to break me down, to remind

fully transferred into Evelyn' s account for the past two years. The 'careta

"She' s at the community center every afternoon for her mahjong ga

daughter in front of a television for hours on end, and using the funds I worked so hard for to gamble with her friends.

tirade, my voice

ction in my tone. "The monthly payments to y

ng, confused. "

lained, spelling it out for him. "The money she' s been using for her mahjong games. It stops to

the line. I could almost hear the gears turning in h

y said, his voice a low, threaten

. "It was my money. And you'

d steady. For the first time in years, I