Locked: My Mother and the Poisonous Rose

up. Why don't you let h

a slap. I stared at her, my heart long n

own way-by setting my cousin up with a man no

k with him. I h

.

er to love another girl mo

unfortunatel

one of th

ervant, provided a stable income. We weren't wealthy, but we lived comfo

n two years ago when Lisa brought

cident. Aunt Marie took the compensation money and ran off with another man. Rose has nowh

red from crying. "I don't want to be a burden," she said so

taking what was mine, and if she couldn't have it, she'd destroy

had proof, Lisa scolded me, "You know Rose didn't mean it. Why are

as always the one who had to g

t it was, for instan

nd a way to take them, and Lis

ght it home, R

m so envious of Claire," she said, her voice dripping

ed to me. "If Rose likes it, you will give it to

said f

w bet

uying me new notebooks, new pens, and other

for a long time. It was a reward from my dad

appened, I wasn'

room, slamming t

, but now it was tot

a hypocrite!

ther side, saying she would

e door and

e. In its place was a horrifying sight-the doll,

d heartbroken. "Rose dest

s. "I know Claire doesn't like me, but she

ened. "Can't you be more reasonable? How c

y Rose a new doll. N

life. At first, I fought back,

sa called thi

ct and secretly bought me a replacement doll. But even he

isits were occasional, but

g with her full-time would be

.

erestimated Rose'

for a while, given she was liv

first words were

uld I stay? I don't really like sharing a room, and I'm in my second year of high sc

ay a few fake tea

drooms-one for Walter and Lisa, and one for me. T

at Lisa, but she didn

d, Rose. Be good. You can stay in Claire's room for now.

I'm your daughter. I'm in my final

as senior high school. Can't you just give in a

es back?" I asked

l... then you can sleep in the living room. It's big, and

t's perfect for Rose,

mentarily s

r. "Lisa, maybe I should sleep in the living room. It's okay, I'm just in

Rose, she is so attentive. Don't yo

her own room and need to sleep in the liv

my things into a suitcase, and

ep with Lisa, even if it meant

isa didn't leave th

heating. I shivered under a thin blanket, unable to slee

down jacket from my s

.

the weather tur

ra blanket, but Rose cl

the extra blanket t

, I woke up

ke ice, but my h

from the kitchen ma

half of my blanket away,

ing table, as if they were the real mother and daughter

d stopped taking me to school,

a ten-minute walk away, while mi

n time left at 6 a.m., so I had

Rose, leaving me to buy bre

wasn't l

ning with fever, but L

hospital bed, the sharp smell o

side me, peel

" she said when she saw I was awake. "Why did you hide

other, yet you let her sleep in the cold living room. What k

told her to sleep with m

e door," I said, exposin

anger. "You ungrateful li

as if to hit me, but

? Are you really go

but her resentme

"Where will Claire s

room. Poor Rose, she's been frail since childhood. How could

e living room is cold in winter and hot in summer, yet y

o Lisa knew all along

e hoarse. "Dad, I want to s

ng me? Do you know how hard it is for me? I've been t

ly. "You've been takin

ger. "Is your idea of care se

ries are expensive, and besides, don't you want to see your da

silent for

worry in my hear

firmly, "Yo

curled int

t sank

nged? Rose will stay at the sc

tears welling up

e'll be bullied at school. She's all alone. S

t you feel s

and questioned. "Who i

d on my heart, making

ng for Rose's schooling. We won't let Claire suf

, Walter made it

r not like me? Please don't make me leave. I'll be good. I'll wash Cla

e won't make you leave. Claire, look at your sister. She's so

se, which annoyed me si

ally don't have enough space at home." Walter looked at the t

, Rose cried so h

to the hospit

while Lisa took her to the hospita

restored, and Rose's belonging

choice bu

and Walter had

nd left with Rose. Watching her go,

me in years, I felt

.

y days left until the hig

re of me, constantly reassuring

nd, didn't visit me o

Rose gone, I was able to

ome from school and was shocked to

d away, refusing to

her. Where's your manners? Rose and I came to cheer

nder my breath. "If you hadn

d with anger, then

cue. "Claire, I know you hate me. If you don't

u still came," I sho

she quickly recovered and made

of course, and R

out, either-after all,

sofa, but Lisa insisted she

for me, refused. Instead, he let them have th

d on my door, her voice unusu

I thought I

ing genuinely kind

a table full of my fav

was trying to mend things with Wal

suspic

and handed me a glass of milk. "Here, have som

er and I

d, "Drink up. Look how nice your c

Claire is lactose intoler

She's just being picky. Why can't she learn from Ro

he milk, urging

oser to me, but the smel

had an upset stomach for hours after

sed to it," Lisa r

tightly, my shou

Today is my exam. It a

scene, finally relented. "Fine, do

was over. After all,

ed milk made you smarter an

she would actuall

rong -terri

do anything

ite of the bread, I k

rned, and a sharp pain sho

off the table, dishes

red, "What did you put in these