different. This time, the vase in his hands wasn't just for show. He brought it down on my head, again and again. I r
t of antiseptic, two identical bassinets. My best friend, Lisa Hayes, her face pale but with a glint of triumph in her ey
, no
il
, sterile. Not like the dusty floor of my living room. I forced my eyes open. The light
ing?" she asked with a kind smile. "The epidural
at my body. My stomach was flat, a gentle softness
es landed on a calendar on
birth. Sixteen years ago. I was back. I had been given a second chance. Ho
filled with a tired, beautiful joy. He looked so young, so untou
g to my side. "You were amazing. She
med down my face. She. He said she. It was my da
?" I asked, my
t finishing her checkup. The
a few hours before me, in the room right next door. She and I had married twin brothers, David and Robert. W
gth. "I want to be moved to a private r
ight next door. And Mom is on her way. She wants t
gles with Alex as poor parenting, constantly comparing my "problem child" to Lisa's "perfect daughter." The
ant any visitors besides you for at least a day. Not your mo
reason. David, ever loving and
ll go talk to the administration right n
p one was complete. I had to keep t
er friendly smile was now a raging fire. She knew her son, Alex, had the rare genetic disorder that ran on her side of the family, a condition that caused severe, u
usband, David, and compared him to the weaker, more pliable Robert. She saw my life as a prize sh
lessly, who bit and scratched, who grew into a teenager who would eventually murder his own mother without a flicker of remorse. And all the w
swaddled bundle. "Here she is, Mo
usting of dark hair, her little hands curled into fists. This was her. My Emily.
s time they were not tears of pa
e choked with emotion. "This time, no one
ot do it again. This time, you will raise the monster