Exhale

“That’s a cruel thing to say ma,” Allan could hardly believe that a mother would say something like this especially for her child. “you can’t just declare to the world that that YOUR daughter is dead when she’s aive and breathing.”
Her face twisted in disgust at the mention of the word daughter. “Why should I care? It’s not like she contributes anything to the family.”

Allan opened his mouth to refute his mother but she stopped him from saying anything else. “Save it Allan, mind is made up, now go make sure every single article related to Bethany is taken down from the internet, Caleb contact my sister Kemi and let her know that Bethany would be moving in with her in a week’s time.”

“She’s not even recovered yet and you already want to ship her off to somewhere else, don’t you think she’s too scared to be away from her family, she needs her family she needs us now more than ever.”
To both Caleb and Allan’s surprise she threw her head back and laughed, she actually laughed.

“Bethany is not family, she is nothing.” She said once she sobered up. “Now I’ll go play the grieving mother.” With that she turned and left the hospital room five minutes later the brothers followed.

Bethany opened her eyes slowly, sure that no one else was in the room. Scared. Alone. Hungry. She laughed bitterly, “unimportant huh?”
She took a deep breath and wiped the tears that fell from her eyes. “never again, never again.” And that was a promise.