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I honestly didn’t want to o far away froford and my home, across the country, across the planet The University of Wyoh, without ht have been offered ht I snuck out of my house The scar on my back took ti h If I hadn’t snuck out, I would have never discovered the truth, and I’d still be naively living in Ralingford

"You should be rateful" My mother restlessly taps her shoe on the tiled floor "But no, you have to pay us back for the life we’ve given you byout of the house and into this repulsive place"

Sometimes, I feel sorry for her More than likely,me here Unlike my father, rateful," I lie throughcare of et the education I want" I sit down on a stack of boxes "And this apartment you call repulsive is the main reason I worked at the phar her head, she joins litters in the roo her hardened features

"I still can’t believe you played ave you to save up money to ruin your life as well as your father’s and mine"

"I didn’t play you, just like I didn’t ruin your lives or mine"

"You really think that?" She pats my cheek with disdain in her eyes "Just wait and see, Emery You’ve lived a very sheltered life You’re in for a rude awakening"

"Good," I dare say, leaning away from her touch "That was part of the reason I moved out"

Her surgery-enhanced lips thin as she frowns "I don’t knohat’s gotten into you over the last couple of weeks, but this little backtalk habit you’ve developed needs to stop now"

I don’t knohat my problem is, either Maybe it’s the taste of freedohter, as if I can finally breathe for the first tiwithasleep to the crying and screa told when and how I need to go to bed

"Sorry," I utter an apology When she raises her brows, I add, "Ma’airl" She pats my head "And just because I’m mad at you doesn’t mean when this all falls apart I won’t be there to pick up the ain, at least by ood side You kno he is, and don’t be surprised if he shows up here to drag you ho, violent, controlling, perhaps a bit crazy It all really depends on what exactly causes those screao peek, but to no avail

"I’ainst ly When I don’t say anything, she grins, like er to her cheek "Now give et home before I miss curfew"

I press a kiss to her cheek and bid her farewell, but instead of heading to the doorway, she starts down the hallway When she reaches the middle of it, she retrieves a hammer, a nail, and a small wooden circle from her purse In the center of the wooden circle is a pattern of angled shapes that curve around The sa room I once asked my mother what exactly they represent, and she’d slapped ain

"Keep this up to remind you of our ho the circle in position "To help you never forget who you are, to follow the rules and behave properly, and that your father and I will always keep an eye on you, no ether as she drops the hammer back into her purse

I desperately want to ht in front of her, but I’ht do to me Tantrums aren’t alloith the Iverysons; otherwise, I’ll be punished And punishments with the Iverysons aren’t normal forms of punishment Never physically of course--that would ruin appearances Mentally--always ht you" She unfastens a silver bracelet froether, no matter what We’re bonded for life, even when one rabs my arm with her free hand and links the bracelet around my wrist The clamp is a silver butterfly that sparkles when it catches in the sunlight "You won’t take that off Do you understand?"

"Yes, ma’am"

She releases my wrist and hands"And don’t forget to take your pills One pink one every day, and the reds are for the bad days, when you can’t breathe and you know you’veup on you toto have to call me to refill the prescription A normal pharmacy won’t do it for you" When I remain silent, she adds, "Emery, this is important If you don’t take your pills, you will end up suffering for your sins Got it?"