I collapsed against the wall, coughing and struggling to breathe through the chemical cloud.
Just as spots began dancing in my vision, the door burst open. Mrs. Collins, our housekeeper rushed me out, immediately grabbing my emergency medication.
I wrapped myself in a robe and headed to my bedroom. As I opened the door, I froze in horror.
My camera lay shattered on the floor. The memory card was snapped in half beside it.
That camera had been my lifeline, the only thing that reminded me I'd once had dreams beyond these walls. Every night, I would scroll through those photos, reminding myself that Emma Stone had existed before she became Olivia’s replacement.
A sob tore from my throat as I knelt beside the ruins of my past life. That's when I noticed the note, written in crayon:
"FAKE MOMMIES DON'T DESERVE MEMORIES."
Something inside me finally broke. I stormed downstairs, finding Theo in the living room with tear tracks on his face as Caleb comforted him.
"How could you?" My voice shook with fury. "That camera was my life's work. Every photo, every memory..."
"It's just a stupid camera," Theo spat. "Mom didn't like photography. She said it was your way of running away from family."