Chapter 2

When I was a kid, I had no power to fight back. All I could do was swallow my frustration. Now I did have that power, and I didn't want to tolerate her any longer.

The car sped down the road before pulling into the grocery store parking lot.

Mom shoved the car door open and snapped, "I told you to buy things earlier and you wouldn't. Now we have to make another trip. Do you think gas is free?"

I ignored her completely and headed straight into the store.

"Salmon isn't safe to eat! They're dumping nuclear wastewater into the ocean. Don't you know that? Put it back!"

I pushed the cart into the seafood section and grabbed five huge packs of salmon in one go. Salmon had always been one of my favorite foods. This time, I was going to eat as much as I wanted.

Mom reached over to take them out, but I didn't give her the chance. I pushed the cart forward and practically sprinted away.

The rotisserie chickens were sold out, but there were still roasted drumsticks left. I tossed two boxes of them into the cart.

"Those chickens are pumped full of hormones! One chicken can grow six drumsticks now. You can't eat that stuff."

Mom stood by the counter with a horrified look on her face. She continued criticizing me.

There were plenty of shoppers nearby. After hearing what she said, several people snorted.

"Madam, stop watching random videos on the internet. That rumor's been debunked for years."

"Those drumsticks are like ten bucks a box. The drugs would cost more than the chicken."

I looked Mom straight in the eye. "These are the foods I like. If you don't want to buy them for me, fine. I can buy them myself. It's my money. You don't get to control what I buy."

She looked shocked. After staring at me for a few seconds, she finally relented. "Fine. You do the buying. I don't care anymore."

I was thrilled on the inside. After over twenty years of being talked down to, I finally won an argument.

The grocery store buzzed with noise and conversation as I continued shopping ahead of her. Before long, the cart was piled high with food.

"Take your purse out and let me carry it for you. It'll get crushed down there."

Mom patted my shoulder and pointed at my purse that was at the bottom of the cart.

I didn't think much of it and did what she said. I pulled my purse out from the bottom and handed it to her.

I kept pushing the cart forward. I grabbed a few drinks that I liked.

By the time I reached the checkout line, I looked over the overflowing cart with satisfaction. I even double-checked to make sure I hadn't forgotten anything.

Once I confirmed everything was there, I started scanning the items one by one.

"Mom, hand me my purse. My phone's inside."

I subconsciously reached behind me, but after waiting several seconds, I still didn't feel my purse in my hand.

I turned around. Mom was gone. All that stood behind me were customers waiting in line.

I thought she had fallen behind somewhere, so I stood on my tiptoes and searched the crowd, but I still couldn't find her. I started to panic.

"Mom! Mom! Evonne Ziegler! Where are you?" I shouted across the checkout area.

No matter how loudly I called out, nobody answered.