Mom stared at that vicious photo, then thought of how sweet and well-behaved I'd seemed the first time we met. Whatever hope she had left died completely.
"How did it come to this?"
She murmured it to herself, nothing but disappointment and confusion left in her eyes.
"My daughter was so good before. So obedient."
Late that night, Mom sat alone at the bar counter, smoking one cigarette after another.
Aileen came over carrying a glass of warm milk. She didn't say anything, just let the wound on her forehead show, as if by accident.
The raw, bloody gash made Mom lose the last of her composure.
She rubbed the bridge of her nose. "After your birthday party, I'm sending her away. She can't stay in this house anymore. She'll drive us all out of our minds."
She believed it was a fair decision for everyone.
And just as she finally allowed herself to breathe, a neighbor called.
"Is this Ms. Fox? Something reeks coming from your apartment. It's unbearable. We can't even open our windows!"
The neighbor's voice was urgent and furious. "We're all standing outside your door right now. You need to send someone over immediately!"