Shattered Bond

Lucy stood in front of Jaycee’s door and took a deep breath before pushing it open. She stopped short at the sight before her. The room looked nothing like she remembered. All his favorite superhero toys had been replaced with various types of toy guns. His sky-blue bedsheets and curtains — his favorite color — were now black.

She placed the plate of porridge on a nearby table and took in the changes. How had all of this happened without her knowing?

The bathroom door slid open, and Jaycee emerged in his pajamas. He froze when he saw Lucy, anger immediately clouding his young face.

“What are you doing in my room?” he demanded.

“JC, I’m your mother. I can come in anytime.”

“That’s not what Aunt Clara said. You’re supposed to knock before entering my room.”

Lucy smiled bitterly. “Okay, noted. You’re a big guy now. I have to respect your privacy.”

There was a time when Jaycee wouldn’t leave her side no matter what. He used to cling to her constantly. His first day of school had been a disaster — the teachers had to practically drag him away from Lucy.

“What do you want?” he asked coldly.

“I made your favorite porridge,” Lucy said softly, picking up the plate to show him.

“Take it away. I don’t want it,” Jaycee replied almost immediately.

Lucy’s heart sank, but she refused to give up. “Why don’t you take just one spoon? I swear you’ll love it.”

Jaycee’s eyes stayed fixed on the plate. Lucy smiled at his visible internal struggle. Finally, he lifted the spoon and took a bite. His face lit up instantly, and Lucy smiled proudly — she knew he would love it. It had been his favorite dish since he was little.

Jaycee looked up at Lucy, who was squatting in front of him. Seeing the proud smile on her face, he did the unthinkable. He opened his mouth and spat the entire mouthful of hot porridge directly onto her face. Lucy was caught completely off guard. She fell backward, and the hot porridge spilled all over her body.

Jaycee burst into hysterical laughter, pointing at her as he cackled. Lucy’s eyes stung with tears. The physical burning from the hot porridge was painful, but the pain in her heart hurt far worse.

“Why did you do that?” she asked, struggling not to cry.

“That’s what you get for taking away my ice cream,” Jaycee said cheerfully as he climbed onto his bed. “Make sure you clean everything up on your way out.”

Lucy stood up and ran out of the room. The moment she reached her own room, she could no longer hold back. She cried her eyes out for a long time. Despite the burning sensation on her skin, she eventually drifted off into a sleep filled with nightmares.

She woke up in the middle of the night, breathing heavily from another nightmare. She got up and stood in front of the mirror, taking in her reflection. The porridge was splattered all over her clothes and body.

The same porridge she had taken her sweet time to prepare with love was now smeared across her. After enduring the most painful shower of her life, she stared at the red burn marks covering her skin. Her whole body ached badly.

She searched for her first aid kit but couldn’t find it. After checking the entire room, she decided to go back to the master bedroom, hoping the guards hadn’t packed it away.

When she reached the door, she knocked softly. No one answered. After knocking several more times, she twisted the knob, and to her surprise, the door opened.