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“Nas, wait” He stood, calling out after me as I made a hasty retreat

The s of my face No warmth No emotion “See you at work”

But not if I could help it

I wasn’t safe anywhere No matter where I turned or where I tried to hide, there she was I went into my closet, and she stared back at me in thefor ed her to leavewithshe couldn’t sneak up behindat un

Her face was no longer as pretty as it once was Her eyes had dulled, a white haze within theray Bits of her hair had fallen out

And still, she smiled

The torn hole in her cheek revealed her rotting teeth

Yet she smiled

I sobbed and rocked and pleaded for mercy

Her sed, the very face of evil

“Why are you doing this towhisper seemed loud in the dark “I was your favorite”

Mother’s voice had deepened so on an ethereal echo behind it “I’m here because you missed me, dearest”

I shook ain, “I don’t miss you I don’t miss you I don’t miss you I don’t miss you anymore”

Time seemed to work differently when she taunted me I wasn’t sure what hour it was, only that it was dark when I heard my front door open, then close My eyes flittered over to the open doorway of my bedroom, and Mother’s movement mirrored my own