Chapter 3

The door opened. Logan walked in. He sat on the edge of the bed in silence for a while before handing me a piece of paper.

I squinted, trying to make out the words on it. It was a dormitory application form.

"I talked it over with your sister. You're in elementary school now. It's time you learn to live on your own. This is better for you, and for our whole family," he said.

I nodded dumbly. "Thank you."

Logan froze. It looked like there was a lot he wanted to say, but in the end, it all melted into a single sigh.

After I was discharged from the hospital, I packed my things and moved into the school dorm. I didn't see Mom at all during those days.

I thought we wouldn't see each other for a very, very long time. But a month later, she suddenly barged into the school and dragged me into her car. We sped all the way to the cemetery.

I curled up in the backseat, trying to make my breathing as light and quiet as possible.

Mom was furious. It was as if her whole body was wrapped in anger and darkness. I had no idea what had happened.

By the time we got to my grandparents' graves, it had started pouring.

Mom held up a big black umbrella. I didn't dare move closer under it. My thin school uniform was soaked through in no time.

"Get on your knees!" she snapped.

I did exactly as I was told. However, after that command, there was nothing behind me but silence. I didn't dare look back.

I didn't know how long I stayed like that, but it was long enough that my vision blurred and I was on the verge of passing out.

Then, through the roar of the rain, I heard faint sobbing. Mom's crying was low and strangled, like the pain was ripping her apart from the inside.

She let the umbrella fall and collapsed to her knees beside me. She crawled toward the tombstone. She traced my grandparents' names again and again with her fingers.

"Mom, Dad… I know I messed up. How long are the gods going to keep punishing me for this? He showed up again… I just wanted to start over. Why is that so hard?"

From the words she forced out between broken sobs, I slowly pieced everything together. The delinquent who had tricked Mom back then had shown up again.

She had gotten pregnant too young and had given birth in a dorm bathroom. That had turned her into the biggest joke in her entire school and that small town.

When Grandpa got the news, he'd had a heart attack on the spot and couldn't be saved. Grandma hadn't been able to handle the blow and had followed him soon after.

And now, the man who had destroyed the first half of Mom's life was haunting her again like a ghost that wouldn't leave. The first thing out of his mouth was that he wanted 500 thousand dollars for his gambling debts.

"Zero Camden is my kid, isn't he? I heard you didn't tell the truth and lied to your husband that he's your little brother. What do you think your husband will do if I tell him everything? Think he'll still stay married to you?"

The rain slowly stopped, but the tears wouldn't. I wanted so badly to hug Mom, but I was afraid it would only make her sadder and angrier.

After that, she drove me back to school. She didn't hit me again, nor did she yell at me. When I looked at her through the car window, her eyes were completely empty.

My heart felt just as full of holes.

…

Yet another weekend, I walked off campus to buy some bread for dinner. A man with bleached blond hair sauntered over and whistled at me. My features looked about 50% like his.

"Hey there, big boy! I'm your dad, and I'm here to take you to the amusement park!"

His tone was frivolous, and all that came out of his mouth were lies. He was nothing like Logan, who was gentle and well-mannered.

It was only natural that Mom hated him. And it also made sense that she hated me.

Of course, the man didn't actually take me to an amusement park. He dragged me off to an abandoned factory instead. Then, he made a video call. Mom's exhausted, anxious face appeared on the screen.

Her eyes slowly widened the moment she saw me.

"It's been a whole week, you wretch. You're still stalling, saying you can't get the money together!" The man waved the knife in his hand, the blade flashing as he kept gesturing it inches from my face.

He continued, "Believe me—I'll chop off one of his fingers and mail it to your husband's office every day. Let's see how long you can drag this out!"

Mom's voice shook. "Don't you dare, you jerk!"

However, inside, I suddenly felt relieved. It looked like my birthday wish was finally going to come true. Starting today, Mom could finally be happy.

I looked into the phone's camera and gave her a tiny smile. The next second, I lifted my chin and slammed my neck down hard against the knife's edge.

Blood sprayed. I heard the man cursing in a panic. I also heard Mom's terrified, broken screams.