Chapter 3

Monday morning was cold.

I went downstairs with the uneven hair I had cut myself.

The moment Mom saw me, the bag in her hand fell to the floor.

"Lily! What happened to your hair?" Her voice was sharp and obviously angry.

I flinched and stepped backward.

"I-I cut it myself. This way washing it is faster, and Mommy doesn't have to help." I stumbled over the explanation.

Dad strode over and grabbed my shoulders. His hands were so strong that my bones hurt.

"Lily, what kind of tantrum are you throwing? This house has been in chaos because of you for days. Can you please behave?"

I looked into Dad's angry eyes.

He did not ask why I had cut my hair. He only thought I was making trouble.

Nora came over and tugged Dad's sleeve. "Mr. Johnston, don't be angry. Maybe Lily thought it would be fun. I used to misbehave too, and my mother would punish me until I learned."

Mom drew a deep breath and picked up her bag.

"Adrian, I have a full dress rehearsal today. I don't have time for this. Take both girls to school."

She did not look at me again before leaving the house.

In the car, Nora sat in the front passenger seat and talked to Dad about school the whole way.

I sat in the far corner of the back seat, watching the trees slide past the window.

At the preschool gate, Dad unfastened his seat belt.

"Lily, Daddy will pick you up tonight. Be good at school." His voice softened a little.

I nodded, opened the door, and climbed out by myself.

Nora rolled down the window and waved. "Goodbye, Lily."

I ignored her and walked through the gate.

During recess, Caleb Price from the older class ran over and snatched the blocks from my hands.

Before, I would have punched him immediately.

Today, I only stared at him.

"Lily, you look ugly now!" Caleb pointed at my hair and laughed. "My mom said your parents are getting divorced. They don't want you anymore. The new girl at your house is the daughter they really want."

The other children gathered around to watch.

I sat on the plastic chair with both hands clenched, my fingernails digging into my palms.

"They haven't stopped wanting me," I whispered.

"Yes, they have! You're unwanted baggage!" Caleb shouted.

I stood, shoved him aside, and ran into the bathroom.

I hid inside a stall and bit the back of my hand so hard that I would not cry aloud.

Dad did not come after school.

Our housekeeper, Mrs. Dawson, picked me up instead.

"Mr. Johnston was assigned an unexpected flight, and Mrs. Johnston is working late at the theater. I already collected Miss Nora. We're going home now."

Only Nora was in the living room when I returned.

She sat on Mom's favorite velvet couch with a sheet of paper in her hands.

When she saw me, she held it out.

It was a drawing.

Dad and Mom stood in the picture, holding hands with a short-haired little girl between them.

Another girl stood to one side with a large black X drawn over her head.

"Lily, I drew this in art class today," Nora said softly.

I stared at the black X as sharp pain spread through my chest.

"Why did you draw that?" I stepped backward.

Nora rose and approached me slowly.

"Lily, don't you understand yet? Your parents are about to divorce.

"Grandma said your mom hates that your dad is always flying, and your dad hates that your mom only cares about ballet. They both think you're a burden.

"After they divorce, Mr. Johnston will adopt me. I'm obedient, I don't waste money, and I never make a mess."

She stopped in front of me and lowered her voice.

"You're going to boarding school. You'll never come home again."

The countdown shrieked inside my head.

All the strength left my body, and I collapsed onto the floor.