Chapter 2

I came across a video Sean posted on his Instagram.

The caption read: “An old wish came true today.”

As if deliberately looking to punish myself, I tapped on the video.

Drones and fireworks filled the night sky.

Andy knelt on one knee, speaking vows of love to Ruth.

She had eventually found the ring.

None of them cared if I, the person trapped in that wrecked car, was safe, or where I had gone.

After being discharged, I wrapped up the paperwork for my study application.

At the notary office, I saw Ruth at a counter.

She was holding a little boy in her arms, while Andy leaned down to fill out paperwork.

I took a step forward, wanting a closer look.

My mom bolted out of nowhere, ramming into me and sending me stumbling backward.

She stepped close, lowering her voice:

“Since you’ve seen it, here’s the truth for you. Ruth gave birth to Andy’s child three years ago.

“Because of you, she couldn’t keep the boy or let him see his father. We’re the ones who raised the boy.

“Don’t you dare try making a scene.”

I looked over at them, a happy family of three.

Their bliss made my eyes burn with unshed tears.

“You guys knew the whole time? You kept me in the dark like a fool!”

My voice choked, and I felt on the verge of total collapse.

So the little room Ruth had prepared in the new house was meant for their son, not ours.

“How could we not keep it from you, given how little sense you’ve got?

“Nothing you can change now. Causing a scene won’t do you or Ruth any good.”

A relentless stream of accusations drilled into my ears, as if I were the villain, and not victim.

With the paperwork finished, Andy held the child in his left hand and took Ruth’s right hand as they walked outside.

Just then, Ruth’s eyes caught mine.

She panicked for a split second, but quickly regained her composure.

She looked me up and down.

“How did you even get your driving license? Pretty impressive to drive a car straight into a ditch.”

Her biting sarcasm invoked the terrifying memory of the accident. Thinking of it now, a thread of terror still haunted me.

I looked at her, her lover and child, then said:

“Not quite as impressive as secretly raising another man’s child behind my back for three whole years.”

Ruth hurriedly yanked her hand out of Andy’s grasp.

“I had no idea I was pregnant when we broke up.

“My health didn’t allow an abortion. You can’t blame Andy for that.

“The new house was so the boy could go to school nearby. Once he turns eighteen, you can have it back.”

Andy reached out and took her hand once again, the diamond ring on her finger gleaming brilliantly.

“You did nothing wrong. You don’t need to explain yourself to anyone.”

My mom yanked me toward the exit, her voice icy:

“If you wanna throw a tantrum, do it outside. You’ll scare the boy saying things like that.”

The moment she spoke, the little boy in Ruth’s arms burst into tears.

“Why is he screaming? I’m scared.”

My mom hurried forward, scooping the child into her arms.

“It’s okay, darling. It’s okay now.”

She patted the boy’s back as she walked away, casting a glance of disgust toward me.

My chest trembled violently.

“None of you did anything wrong. It’s all my fault.

“Ruth, let’s break up. The wedding is canceled. I won’t stand in the way of you being a good mother.”

I walked back to my counter and resumed the paperwork.

Ruth froze on the spot at my words.

Just as she was about to take a step towards me, Andy gently caressed her palm.

“We gotta go to the kindergarten now.”

Holding my pen, I stared at the paperwork for a long while.

I didn’t snap back to reality until the tip of the pen punctured a hole through the paper.

My eyes drifted down to the faded scar around my forearm.

Ruth lived in an old garden house, where I had pointed out several potential fire hazards.

Yet she brushed them off as cheap excuses I was making to force her to move.

“What if Andy gets lost? He’s bad with direction and only knows this one route.

“If you want to move, go ahead. I’m staying here.”

That very night, the electric water heater caught fire.

My entire arm was badly burned.

Only then did Ruth relent and agree to move.

Little did I know then, she’d been stringing me along with lies after lies.