Chapter 5
Betty dropped to her knees, full Oscar–worthy waterworks. “Mom, I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to–boohoo–I’m so sorry, Mom. If
Daphne won’t forgive me, I’ll just die!”
Then came her dramatic sobbing.
“Betty, stop pre-”
Slap!
Mom’s hand connected with my face before I even got the words out.
“Enough!” she screamed. “It’s just ashes! The dead are gone–are ashes more important than the living? If you keep bullying Betty, you can get out of my house!”
That slap? Yeah, it killed whatever shred of attachment I had left for her.
Maybe it was for the best. I didn’t belong here anymore anyway.
Without a word, I wiped the blood off my lip, turned, and walked upstairs.
No teary goodbyes, no dramatic speeches. If Betty had already claimed my room, what was the point of sticking around?
