The Unwanted, The Unstoppable

ty of it was too much. Sharing him. Like he was a toy an

" I finally gasped, wi

I'd slapped her. "I w

e here. You'd 'help' me by giving me your old clothes, then telling your friends I had no taste. You'd 'help' me with

say!" Alice cried out, clu

my back on them. "I'm done. I'm

. The tears vanished instantly. "You can't leav

h. It was the only thing she truly cared abo

d over my shoulder as I walked toward

oared. "You're not going anywhere

nd of the hall, a small, cramped space that had once been a s

irs, my mother's voice, suddenl

honey,

ut didn't

. "We were just upset. We didn't mean those thin

e explosion, followed by the soft, manipulative

worn. "We were so lost when you were gone. We searched f

convincing. But tonight, I

sing every penny to search for me," I said, my voice flat. "You said yo

she said eagerly. "Eve

month, I found a photo album. It was full of pictures from your trip to Hawaii in '05. You

ned from it. The Colonel looked aw

simply. "You lied

erstand..." Al

ved for. I was an embarrassing problem you had solved. And when I showed up

owed, his face turning red again

ad. "You gave Kristen a sec

ed when she wanted something. "Don't do this. Mom and Dad are just stressed. Think ab

s about how

e my boyfriend," I said, turning away again. "I'

break me down. "My own daughter, accusing me of such things! Afte

f the grieving mother. I used to cry with her, hold

ing. The well of my

orked for ten years, surviving things you can't even imagine. I came her

m, a perfect, miserable litt

ization settling over me with a strange sense o