Powerful Words

"It wasn't me…" I opened my mouth to speak, but only a hoarse sound emerged.

Since returning to the Shaw family a year ago, I was very careful not to say anything, fearing that one wrong word would hurt this precious family I'd finally found.

I still remember the day I returned home. Dad cooked barbeque ribs for me. Mom held my hand, promising I would never suffer again.

My sister, who now seemed to want to crush my bones, once fought tooth and nail against bullies who mocked me at school.

That was the only ray of light I clung to in the endless darkness of my life.

Therefore, I gritted my teeth and willingly became invisible.

But now, that light had turned into a blade that cut deep into my heart.

"You still won't admit it? You were the only one who went into the kitchen. If it wasn't you who poisoned him, who else could it be?" Violet bellowed as she bent down, grabbed the pure silver amulet I wore on my neck, and yanked it off forcefully.

The silver chain left a bloody mark on my neck. The amulet was something Mom had begged for from a fortune teller up in the mountains last year on my birthday. She had to climb 399 steps to get there. She said the amulet was a good-luck charm that would keep me safe.

"Don't touch my amulet!" I struggled to grab it back.

Violet kicked me hard in the chest, knocking me over. She turned and shoved the amulet into Jackie's hands, who had recovered a little by now.

"Letting you wear this is an insult to the gods! Only a pure, innocent boy like Jackie deserves to wear it!"

Weakly leaning in Mom's embrace, Jackie cried bitterly, yet he tightly held onto the amulet that was originally mine.

"Dad, Mom, don't blame Henry… *cough cough* …He's suffered a lot over the years, so it's understandable if he feels jealous. If it makes him feel better, I wouldn't mind giving up my life…"

The more Jackie spoke, the more disgusted my parents looked at me.

Mom hugged Jackie tightly while glaring at me angrily. "See? Your little brother is defending you even though he almost died, and you still wouldn't admit your mistake! Jackie has always been a kind boy. He wouldn't hurt a fly. There's no way he would risk his life to frame you!"

Dad pointed at the door with a cold face.

"Throw him into the storeroom in the backyard! Lock him up for three days so that he'll learn we don't tolerate malice in this family!"