Kaela

Clara’s return was my opening. I excused myself with the lie of feeling sleepy and headed upstairs, my heart pounding as if I was preparing for a fight with a sworn enemy.

But honestly, it all felt like the same thing.

Closing my door quietly, I dressed my bed with a decoy, just in case. Those things were not enough to deceive my mother, but I still had to do it, hoping her exhaustion would get the better of her and prevent her from doing the needful.

It didn’t ...