Tangled

163

163

163 Ava: Mom (III)

Fach word is like a dagger to my heart, twisting and tearing at the fragile threads of my composure. I feel myself crumbling beneath the

pain, a tear slipping down my check, hot and heavy with the weight of a lifetime of misery.

But then, amidst the chaos of my emotions, Vanessa's words echo in my mind: "Your mother no longer has any power over you. All the power she holds is in the past, in memories."

I cling to those words like a lifeline, using them to anchor myself in the present. Taking a deep, shuddering breath, I meet my mother's gaze head-on.

"No. Mom," I say, my voice growing stronger with each word. "I didn't ruin anything. Nor did I fail. I was a child who deserved to live with her family. With happiness. You failed me. You should have sheltered me did."

My voice cracks a little, and I clear my throat. "I'm not here for you. I'm not here as your daughter. I just want to know what information you have about the vampires." My gaze meets hers, and this time I make s flat. Devoid of emotion.

I can't let her see how much she affects me.

"This is your last chance, Mom. The moment I tell Lucas that you have nothing to tell-"

"He will kill me as soon as I give him the information he seeks," she says, turning her face away from mine with a wave of her hand that I recognize.

by that worl You make me as if baby You changed ou kissed me every night before I went to derp tam

Dame it. I can't stop the anger.

"You are a deceiver. You cannot be my child. No defect would be borne of my womb

Her weak voice grows strong as she screams.

This is not the mother I remember

is not

"You are no wolf. You are no child of mine. You should

anything that she can throw, and settles

you demonspawn child. You are not

were never mine!"

of the machines pierces

past me, their faces set in grim determination as they surround my mother, now thrashing in

me away from the bed.

and urgent in my

my eyes away from my mother.

screams rising above the beeping and the nurses' calm commands. Her eyes, wild and fevered, lock onto mine, and for a moment,

commotion.

sign of it. Her screams only grow louder, more frantic, as she

"Get away from me! You're all in on it! You're all trying to kill

she pulls me towards. the door with more force. "Ava, we

me out of the room, my feet moving of their own accord. The screams and beeping fade

Haunting.

Horrible.

deep in my heart-the final chapter in our

Holding afrodit he

in faded,

E

& lumelle fall away from my pholders as she steps in Nort

she asks

CEST

but no words come. Am I alright?! don't know feel nuh, hollowed out, as if my mother's words have carved away a piece of

her warmth seeping through my jeans I reach down automatically to stroke

in the fandhar texture.