But my body betrayed me. My head grew heavy. The world spun.
Darkness swallowed me whole.
When consciousness returned, it came with the sensation of being dragged across rough ground. Someone tossed me onto a pile of straw. The stench of manure filled my nose.
The cowshed.
Voices drifted in from outside.
"Naomi seems to have a high fever," a neighbor said. "It's freezing tonight. If you leave her in the cowshed, she'll die. No matter what, she's still your daughter."
Dad scoffed. "If she dies, that's her fate. My mother is dead because of her. You want me to bring that curse into my house so she can kill me too?"
"You're doing this on purpose. You're trying to kill her."
"Watch your mouth." Dad's voice turned sharp. "If you care so much, take the jinx home and raise her yourself. See how long you live."
So.
Dad really wanted me to die.
*Fine,* I thought, drifting back into the dark. *I'll go die. When Grandma goes to Heaven, I'll go with her.*
In my haze, the cold vanished. I felt warm, cozy, and safe. Grandma appeared in the darkness, smiling at me.
"Naomi," she whispered. "My poor Naomi has been wronged."
I cried, shaking my head. "Grandma, I miss you. Take me with you."