MY TABOO STEP DADDY
“You can join Hugo in the afterlife or man up."
She's already climbing with the precision of a burglar, like she's doing this before.
Who the fuck is this woman?
"How do you---" But she's already halfway up.
Behind us, barkings, voices, footsteps.
I grasp the link and climb.
My hands shake.
I don't look down, don't think about falling, don't think about Hugo.
One hand. Then another. Climb as Mom does.
Halfway up, my foot slips. I freeze.