Chapter 5
Mom’s work was in New York, a thriving city with plenty of opportunities. Within a few years, she had bought a house there and brought me over to live with her. By then, I was already in middle school.]
Meanwhile, Casey’s fancy school had become too expensive. Dad’s meager salary couldn’t support her education anymore, so she had to drop out.
But even after dropping out, she continued living extravagantly, using Dad’s money to satisfy her every whim. Dad became thin and haggard, living frugally just to keep up with her demands.
On the day I was set to leave for New York with Mom, Dad showed up. When he saw me, his eyes filled with regret.||
“Riley…”
He reached out to touch my head but noticed how much taller I’d grown. His hand fell away awkwardly. “Please don’t go. Stay with Dad. This is where you grew up.”
I shook my head and stepped back, touching my ear. After years of treatment, my hearing had improved somewhat, but it would never be normal again.
With my hearing aid in place, I looked at him coolly. “No thanks. I belong wherever Mom is. In her eyes, I’m the princess.”
He pulled me into a hug and broke down crying. “Riley, I was wrong. I was so wrong. Please don’t hate me.“[]
*Dad just wanted to make things right for Casey. Your mom and I were so busy with work back then, so we had her stay with her maternal grandmother in the countryside.“[]
“After you were born, we were so caught up in our jobs that we didn’t dare bring her home.”
“We had no idea your maternal grandmother wasn’t treating her well. There were too many kids in that house. She never got enough to eat or a decent place to sleep. I failed her badly.”
“But why did your guilt have to come at my expense? You failed her, not me.“]
After all these years, I finally asked the question that had been burning inside me.
Dad froze. “Riley, are you… are you saying you don’t love dad anymore?“[]
I shook my head. “I don’t. The moment you made me sleep on boards in the living room and stopped caring whether I lived or died–that’s when I stopped loving you.”
I stepped back, putting distance between us. Dad’s face crumpled as tears streamed down his weathered cheeks. Grandmat stood nearby, cursing at him. “You broke this child’s heart, and now you’re putting on a show? Get out! Get out! I can’t stand the sight of your
She grabbed her broom and chased him away.
Dad sobbed as he watched Mom and me walk away, but I felt lighter than I had in years. I was finally free to live my
life.
In the new city, everything felt strange–new teachers, new classmates. But everything had an exciting newness to it that filled
me with hope!]
During my first year of high school, I won the school’s academic scholarship, Mom called Grandma with the good news, and she was absolutely thrilled. During summer break, I went back to visit. When Dad heard I was coming, he prepared a feast and invited me over.
Mom thought about it and decided that we’d still have to see him occasionally despite the divorce. Plus, Grandma had been so good to me, so for her sake, Mom agreed to take me there.[]
The moment I walked in and saw Casey, I was shocked. She was dressed like some wannabe rapper–complete with ear gauges lip piercings, and dreadlocks. Her baggy pants hung halfway down her butt.
When she saw me, Casey’s voice dripped with sarcasm. “Well, well, if it isn’t the genius back from the big city.“]
She raised an eyebrow at me. “Those are some nice headphones, Give them to me.”
Before I could even respond, she reached for them, just like she used to do when we were kids.
But I wasn’t a kid anymore. I smacked her hand away. This is a hearing aid![]
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