But Hakeem just said lazily, “I know you’re scared, but the doctor says it helps her anxiety. That snake’s her medicine. Be a good wife, yeah? Don’t make this harder than it needs to be.”
There was a threat under those words. Quiet but sharp. Like a noose pulling tight behind the smile.
I bit down my pride. Swallowed every last bit of dignity I had. “A-alright,” I said. “I’ll take care of it.”
Margaret smiled like I’d just handed her my throne. “Thanks, Harmony. Oh, and isn’t it sweet? His name’s Armie. Same as yours.”
I blinked. My heart clenched. And I smiled through the burn. “Adorable.”
After that, I fed it. Cleaned its tank. I stayed far as I could, only using tongs and gloves. The damn thing would lift its head and hiss every time I got close. One night, it tried to lunge at me through the glass. I nearly dropped the whole tank.
I didn’t sleep that night.
---
A week passed. I came home from the market, Aziel trailing behind me quietly right away, clutching a juice box. Then I heard crying.
I dropped the groceries, rushed in and found Margaret shaking on the floor. The snake’s tank was tipped over. Hakeem was pacing like a demon, eyes wild.
“Where the fuck is the doctor?!”