Unending

a

Agnes's furious glare. Her feet

n she looked away, I steadied my

ent. "You whore!!!" she shrieked

truck my face, le

ily. The slap's sting surprised me, bu

to her verbal jabs? Yet,

ather stormed down the stair

your shameless mother," he thundere

deeper than

words echoed my deepest fears – was I truly like my mother

n?" Agnes demanded,

aits me when my little escapades would be discovered and shame know

e as my father's words cut

shameless mother, but I was wrong," he

e caught my eye. She w

– Mira's insecurity a

hree weeks, this was her

ldn't replace her a

a's tantrums, her tears when I outsc

er, excusing her behavior as a des

manipulation and my par

ap brought me

st night?" he yell

" I stammered, t

r. "You lied to me! Your ste

ours, forced to re

t

iny footage, provided by Vince, offered no solace. For the umpteen

I regret to inform you that street footage yie

red, threateni

I growled, my tone i

rted, seeking esc

new better than to speak. One

ence spent. The door closed beh

es of that night haunted me

failing, my reputa

na

larm. "My God, Daisy! What happened to you

lease. Her swollen face and tear-stained cheeks told a story of p

, "God, that was intense!" My hands fle

r sleeping out?" I asked, incredulo

ulled her into a gentle hug. I sensed a deeper

hing ointment for her swollen fa

er of me. "So, how was it?" I asked, eyes spar

ed to embarrassment, h

, my tone playful, but sens

n hue. "You don't expect me to sh

rinning. "We're best friends, a

ast, and you were absent from work. I'm

sidering her struggles. "No wor

p, "and you'll dish about that hunk." M

tension easing.Our friendship was built

a

wn lately, hiding m

y old phone; the next, I was rushing

i

still need so much stuff for college," I whined, tra

ng across his face. "What does my angel want this

," I replied, batting my eyelashes a

ould've taken my credit card, sweetie. Agnes, don't make

my mum's concern, but I

mix of mock exasperation and affection. "You're

irs to fetch his credit card. My heart swelled with

nerves about leaving home, but

the kitchen. "You're spoiling her so much," she said, a hint of jest in her vo

ho will? Let my daughter enjoy her father's wealth; she deserves

/ Mo

, I'd rushed to the pharmacy, my mind racing with possibilities, after finding you wrapped up and looking pi

as I stepped into the restroom. The fluorescent light

ice barely audible over the sound of my own ragged breathing. Before stepping into the

my eyes fixed on the timer ticking away the sec

ank like a stone in a bottomless oce

ssing second an eternity.

eared, shattering my fragi

e like a river. Disbelief washed over me as I stared at the kit, t

s have happened? What about my future? What would my family th

ind romance from that night flooded m

my throat. I felt lost, unsure of