ssa

felt like a betrayal of the woman who had fled this place in agony just an hour before. But I h

the anticipation of seeing Joshua' s face, was g

happy peals of it. It was Joshua. He was laughing with a carefree joy I

mile fixed on his face. "Look who I

ofa, Joshua nestled in her lap, his head thrown back in laughter as she tickled his side.

It didn' t just fade; it snapped off, like a light bei

is voice barely a w

the room

d have reluctantly given. I would have knelt down, my heart aching, and asked him what

there, my hands cl

tom pains from his illness. I' d whisper promises into his hair, swearing to him that I would work har

ven years of grueling, soul-crushing wo

behind her legs. The small movement was a rejection so profound it sto

eutral. The mask of a calm, loving mother was the heaviest thing I had e

nding foreign and strained. "W

set in a pout. He shook his head, burying his fa

nice. Your mom is tired. She works very hard for you." She shot me a look, one I used to interp

d to me, her voice dripping with fake sw

ith me. He was repulsed.

e had held my hand, promising to be there for us no matter what. I had been so grateful, so

She had stolen my son from me, right under my nose, with cookies a

d forward, knocking a bowl of fruit off the coffee table. Gra

y me!" she

right, honey?" he asked, his voice thick with a concern he had nev

mess she had created. Joshua rushed to help too, carefu

ed. I was an outsider in my own famil

y settle in my chest. There

o," I said,

ed in annoyance. "Alyssa, don'

ouldn' t breathe in that room for a

-