Never yours

oria

hands trembling. When he pulled out a folded pa

The paper crackled like dry leaves in my hand. I didn't need to o

ded the

ase understand-I'm doing this for us. I'm going away, and I don't know i

mbled as the note slipped from my fing

appening," I whi

dread that hangs when everything's falling apart. Only one man

his was a joke. That she was hiding somewhere, waitin

mouth drawn in a tight, broken lin

t I barely noticed her touch un

urred my

," I snapped, "and th

Everyone here's more worried about the

er, gripping

e in-laws are here. W

d coolly from across the room. "Poster

My sister j

rifted back to the man in white-still pacing, still calling. T

oom," Aunt Ter

turned

an in

d from my throat.

to help," she offere

s Richard,"

couldn't. Every br

Aunt Teraza, and Kelvin in tow. The room stilled

m?" I as

y arm. Her gr

king. "But we have a wedding in less than two h

d. "What

ide is

this destroy

t," Dad said flatl

want me to stan

said, no pause,

fe? My school? My dreams? I

Mum whispered, her face alr

o my room, away

I said quietly. "

ld was pressing him down. "Sweetheart... Kelvin ha

e a documen

stomach dropped when

n immediate legal action, including jail time, foreclosure of your p

uckled. "How can

pered, "your mother will suffer.

assy. "I promise... I'll fi

e here," Richard said, voic

otsteps slow, deliber

nished," Richard snapped. "And no

ant no part of it. There are o

stepmother. This is about you. About your legac

" Richard's voice rose. "You want me to fak

said coldly. "You walk away, and

ensed. "Are you

"No, son. You live in you

ay without l

licked at his spine. His life was being auctioned off in a

eraza were adj

, heart numb,

. His eyes locked on m

one being forced,

eep inside me s

ll