Frozen Cargo, A Betrayed Wife

playful spark, now held only a cold disdain when they landed on me. It was a look I

s about love, Elsie? This is about a debt. An obligation. Your mother saw to that." His words were like sharp pieces of ic

as had ripped that belief apart, piece by painful piece. My innocence, my trusting heart-they were no m

swerved to avoid a deer. We crashed. I remembered the impact, the sudden, violent jolt. Then, bright lights, flashing and blinding. Atlas, bleeding, pinned under the dashboard. I was just a

used big words like 'Traumatic Brain Injury.' They said my brain didn't work the same. That I was like a six-yea

e. But Momma, Ida Pittman, she saw more than just gratitude. She saw an opportunity, a way to secu

d pleaded, her voice thin and desperate. "She gave up her mind for him.

would always have a home, a protector. Mr. Forbes, burdened by guilt and a sense of duty, agreed

it. He

Look at what you did," he'd hiss, his eyes blazing with fury. "Look

er. "But Momma said... Momma said you would love me," I'd sob, m

rsh, bitter sound. "Prince? I'm your jai

ma. "Momma, please," I begged, clutching her hand, already frail

e whispered, her voice raspy. "It's for your own good. When I'm gone, he will be all you have. He

ed his study, even though I often broke things. I cooked him burnt meals, even though he never ate them. I le

mouse, while he and Kacie laughed, touched, and kissed on the sofa. "Look, Elsie," Kacie would say, her v

ant throb. But I still clung to Mo

n into the cellar. It was dark, cold, and smelled of damp earth. "This is where useless t

then, a small, foolish part of me still hoped. Maybe he'd come back. May

ing belly, her triumphant smile aimed directly at me. "Atlas is going

told me he was going to take me to a facility, a "special place

ly kind, almost friendly. "Atlas is worried about your headaches. He bought you these special vitamins. Take them. They'll make you feel

d to believe her. I wan

t Kacie just smiled. "It means they're wo

d, clutching her stomach. Atlas rushed to her side, his face pale with fear. "My baby!"

when he looked at me. "You little m

nding away at the last vestiges of my hope. He had decided, right then, that

of domestic bliss. "I can't believe she tried to hurt our baby," she mu

n to our baby, Kacie," he vowed, his voice tight with resolve. "I promise you. She won't ever come between us again."

wife, the burden, the monster, was left to die in the cold,