My eyes darted to the clock on the wall. The lottery draw was yet to happen and with it, the chance to set things right. My heart raced with suppressed excitement; this life was an opportunity to exact justice on those who had wronged me and my daughter.
Jennifer and I had shared years of friendship. After her divorce, she’d come to stay with me and over the past decade, she had become a fixture in my home. Each night, she’d bring me a cup of milk she’d meticulously prepared, a gesture that had always seemed endearing.
"Eloise, drink it," she urged, her voice soft and coaxing.
"Jennifer, you should be an actress," I remarked, half-jokingly. Her performance had deceived me for years, making me believe in her innocence.
Jennifer tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear, her smile unwavering. "Oh, Eloise, don't tease me. I have no talent for such things."
"Auntie Jenn, can you help me with this outfit?" My daughter’s voice interrupted our exchange.