Chapter 1
Three years ago, Mom left me a note saying she’d save me from hell. Told me to wait at the marina.
I stood there for three days and nights, yet she never showed.
Instead, my uncle came–the same one who’d kicked me out of the house.
Your mom’s dead. You’re on your own now, kid.”
ended up squatting in this half finished building near the marina, living off whatever I could scavenge from dumpsters.
Today, some fancy woman in designer clothes stops right in front of me. There’s a boy with her, looks about my age.
he pulls off her sunglasses.
loly shit. It’s my supposedly “dead” mother.
he points at me and says to the kid, “See that, Brighton sweetie? This is what happens when you don’t study hard. You end up like this piece of trash, digging hrough garbage. Stay away from her–poverty might be contagious.”
hen she throws three hundred–dollar bills at me like I’m some street performer, loops her arm through her new son’s, and starts walking away.
Take the money and disappear. Don’t let me see your face again–it’s disgusting.”
catch the glint of that massive diamond ring on her finger, and suddenly everything clicks.
he’s not dead.
he just dumped me like yesterday’s garbage to live her perfect little life.
m clutching those hundreds so tight my knuckles are white.
Mom–Marlena Voss–walks arm–in–arm with her new son, Brighton, toward a sleek black Mercedes.
he second they’re in the car, Brighton starts whining for hand sanitizer.
Mom, that gross girl touched me.”
Don’t worry, honey. Well wash your hands the minute we get home.”
The window rolls up, and they’re gone.
mindlessly pick up plastic bottles from the gutter, but my brain keeps flashing back to three years ago at the marina.
t was drizzling that day.
Mom was packing with tears streaming down her face.
Baby, Momany’s taking you away. Your dad’s gambling is going to destroy us. We’re starting fresh, just you and me.”
The held me so tight I could barely breathe, her tears soaking into my hair.
“Tomorrow night, eight o’clock. Meet me at the old marina. Come alone, okay?”
Then I waited at that marine for three straight days.
First day, I was hopeful.
Second day, scared.
Third day? Pure despair.
When Unde Zander showed up, I thought Mom had sent him.
22:21
From ‘Beloved Daughter‘ to ‘Dead Burden? Now Watch Your Perfect Family‘ BURN!
24.5%
Chapter 1
I rush over full of hope, only to meet his cold stare.
“Your mother’s dead.”
He shoved a death certificate at me. “Car accident. DOA at the hospital.”
I shook my head like crazy.
No way. Not possible.
“Don’t believe me? Keep waiting then.” He turned to leave. “Either way, I’m not taking care of some deadweight kid.”
From then on, I got kicked to the curb and ended up on the streets.
My first night in that abandoned building, I cried until sunrise, clutching Mom’s photo.
When stray dogs tried to steal my bread. I fought them off with my bare hands.
They bit me bad–blood everywhere–but I couldn’t lose.
Losing meant dying.
Back to reality. I’m watching that luxury car disappear, and weirdly, I feel… calm.
instead of buying food with that three hundred, I walk into a monument shop.
The lady behind the counter looks at me like I’m something stuck to her shoe.
Little girl, you sure you want to buy a headstone?”
Yes.”
Cheapest one’s two hundred. You want it?”
nod and pull out every cent I have.
The headstone’s tiny, but it’ll do.
tell the engraver: “Beloved Wife Marlena Voss.”
de looks confused. “Kid, you sure about beloved wife“?”
Positive.”
Then I haul that headstone to her fancy gated community.
The security guard tries to stop me, but I tell him I’m making a delivery.
light in front of her mansion, I set up the headstone.
eighbors start gathering pointing and whispering
Whose jod is that?”
“Why is she setting up a grave marker?”
Maricua comes storming out, face white as a sheet
Brighton hudes behind her, whimpering. “Mom, why is that dirty girl here again?”
When Marlene reads the headstone, she goes completely pale.
“Are you insane?”
I look at her calmly “Since you’re dead, figured you needed a proper memorial
22:21
