Chapter 3

At dinner that night, Marvin's mother glanced at the date on her phone.

"Today's the ovulation window."

My mother filled a bowl of soup for me right away.

"Drink plenty, and get to bed early tonight."

They discussed the timing to my face, discussed positions, discussed when next month they'd have me take a pregnancy test.

No one asked whether I was willing.

After dinner, Marvin went into the bedroom early.

The door locked behind him.

I heard that click, and my whole body went taut.

"I don't want to."

Marvin's brow furrowed.

"You've recovered now. Mom says today's the best chance."

I shook my head hard.

"I told you, I don't want to get pregnant again right now."

The patience drained slowly from his face.

"Everyone's been running around for you all this time, and now you say you don't want it?"

"Kayla, can't you stop being so selfish?"

He gripped my wrist and pushed me down onto the bed.

In the scramble, my elbow knocked over the bedside lamp, and it struck Marvin.

My mother heard the noise and rushed in.

When they saw the blood on Marvin's face, both of them went white with alarm.

Marvin's mother started to step forward, but my mother suddenly grabbed her.

The two of them muttered something I couldn't catch.

Marvin's mother's face changed, and she instinctively backed away a few steps.

I still didn't understand what was happening.

Early the next morning, several strangers burst into the bedroom.

They seized my arms and dragged me out to the living room.

A red cloth came down hard over my head, and choking smoke kept pushing up into my nose.

Someone kicked the backs of my knees and forced me down.

Someone clamped my jaw and poured water mixed with paper ash into my mouth.

I choked and coughed violently, crying out for help with everything I had.

"Mom, help me!"

My mother was right there, and yet she held my shoulders down with all her strength.

"Just bear it. Once we drive the filthy thing out, you'll go back to how you used to be."

I froze.

It was as though an invisible blade had pinned me in place, unable to move.

Marvin's mother only grew happier.

"It's working, it's working!"

"You had the right idea after all. If I'd known, why bother with any hospital? We should have driven the evil out of her sooner!"

The hands pinning me down bore down harder.

Marvin seemed unable to bear watching.

"Kayla, bear it a little longer. Mom's doing this for your own good too."

"Take the medicine like a good girl, so we can have a baby sooner."

They'd lost their minds.

Every one of them had lost their minds.

Terrified, I tore off the red cloth and ran for the door as hard as I could.

The neighbor next door had just opened their door when my mother came chasing after me.

"Don't mind her, the girl's gone mad."

"She's been unhinged since the miscarriage. Her mind's gone. She just now hurt her own husband."

"Keep your distance, quick, before she hurts you too!"

I stood frozen where I was, tears sliding down through the incense ash on my face.

"I'm not mad. I'm only sick."

"I only wanted to see a therapist!"

No one cared about my tears.

Marvin, his forehead wrapped in gauze, apologized to the neighbors, worn out.

Marvin's mother and my mother dragged me back, one on each side.

The neighbors watched me with pity, and not one of them dared step forward.

Someone urged me on.

"Girl, stop making a scene. They're all doing this for your good."

Someone shook their head.

"Marrying a wife like that is a real curse."

My nails dug hard into the corner of the wall until they bled.

The next second, the door slammed shut.

It cut me off from everything I had left to hope for.