"I know that person is Dave," he said, "but the scandal has caused too much damage. The school has decided to dismiss you."
Just like that, I was blamed for something that wasn’t even true. I became the subject of gossip, disliked by my own students, and criticized by their parents. The rumors followed me everywhere, and in the end, I lost my job.
When I got home, I noticed splatters of chicken blood on the door. My heart sank as I inserted my key, pushing the door open to find my mother perched on the sofa, waiting for my return.
Before I could take a step, she hurled a cup at me. It grazed my forehead and shattered on the floor, shards scattering like my already fragile spirit. It was the very cup Dave had given me last year during our trip to Shopify.
“You still have the nerve to come back! Why don’t you just die out there?” she screamed, fury radiating from her.
“You’ve ruined my reputation! Do you have any idea what your aunts are saying about me? They’re all criticizing me for not having children while raising you. Your father was seduced by a mistress, and you know how much I despise them. But look at you now—you’ve become someone else’s mistress!”