Chapter 6

Once they were gone, I walked to a boutique down the street and bought a sundress.

My mother used to give me an allowance every week, but Brooke stole most of it.

She called it "protection money." As long as I paid up, she wouldn't beat me as often.

The last fifty dollars I had left was money I had starved myself to save.

After changing into the dress, I looked at myself in the mirror.

The girl looking back had a gentle, soft expression, with faint dimples when she smiled.

It had been so long since I smiled like that.

I actually looked pretty in a dress.

I twirled gently, combed my hair, and braided it over my shoulders.

Before leaving, I picked up my phone.

I dialed my father's number for the very last time. It rang until it went to voicemail.

Then I opened social media. The top post was from my mother.

They had arrived at the historic coastal town. She had posted a gallery of photos with Brooke.

They were leaning close, making goofy faces at the camera, laughing.

I stared at the screen for a long time, a suffocating lump in my throat.

It was so sad. Since I grew up, my mother had never taken a single photo with me.

When the moon rose above the trees, I stepped out the front door.

North of the town was a massive reservoir, an unfinished recreation area with barely any foot traffic.

I walked to the water's edge, gathered several heavy stones, and bound them tightly to my ankles with rope.

I smoothed down my hair and my dress, then took a step into the freezing water.

As the dark, icy depths swallowed me completely, an overwhelming sense of peace washed over me.

No more pain. No more screaming. No more suffocating weight.

I sank smoothly to the very bottom.

When consciousness returned, I found myself drifting upward. Before I could understand what was happening, an invisible force yanked my spirit forward.

When I opened my eyes again, I was floating right beside my mother.