Grade Me Harder
She reached out—fingertips brushing my cheek.
I slapped her hand away.
Her smile shattered.
"You call this strength?" Her voice slithered out, a sound like serrated steel dragging over bone. "You believe love is power? That pitiful life squirming inside you is no shield—it’s a flaw. A slow, screaming weakness." She leaned closer, her breath rancid with something spoiled. "I won’t just touch you, little mother. I’ll peel you open to watch it die first."
My stomach twisted, instinct screaming. I took another step back, hand cradling my belly.