She Cut Ties with Her Parents

roke. How could you do that to your daughter? You ignore your daughter just because you ha

hey couldn't muster a sing

police officer and then silently t

me, they didn

rents was laid bare, and none of us men

ven more on my academic learning,

in middle school, I had moved into the

en their social media no longer featured m

st year in middle school, I retu

rlier, so they didn't know

living room, I noticed

net, three cups on the dining table, and even the family

o have existed

e, only to be shocked to find that my room

re there, and my belongings had be

me seriously. Neither di

s had grown increasingly indifferent to me,

that I probably couldn't

ck up and leave that pla

arships anywhere, and I could always tutor when I a

ouched down to sort through th

al except that my ha

oiled and overweight, barged in with a domineering look. He pointed at

t Cory no longer recognized me bec

m and contin

ever, and our parents' indulgence h

Norene, that unwanted girl who studies outside like a stray dog, right? I warn you, Mom and Dad said their favorit

ed him, "These

mine. Even if I throw them in the trash, yo

shed him aside and conti

ngs away, Cory was anxious and, shockingly

tered on me and the l

That was beyond anyth

, "Now you're really a stray dog. Not that.

etting under my skin. For the first ti

rage, I looke

ze, and fear flick

rd our parents' v

ry? Are you back? I bought your favorit

ene wants to kill me. She said I took her room and should be kicked out like a

mother hurriedly ran up

old voice, "You insisted on staying at school and not coming home. What right do you have to blam

were a little girl. You keep to yourself and don't get close to the famil

nd I hadn't expected their welco

smugly in my

d never seen anyone better

, and the stench made

ghed and asked calmly, "Cory, d

dently and said

sh, I slapped him ha