The Replacement Daughter
Mom said it belonged to Beau and told me to take good care of it.
Last time, a classmate tried to steal it. I got beaten up pretty badly fighting to get it back.
My vision was fading to a blur now, and I hugged the toy car tightly to my chest as I closed my eyes.
I thought, 'Mom, Beau is coming back now, and you won't have to keep looking at the replacement that hurt you anymore.'
I told myself that this was for the best.
Slowly, the pain began to fade away. I felt like a dandelion fluff lifted gently by the wind, floating up light and weightless until I could see that small body lying on the bed below.