All because of you.
Mum…
The frantic feeling clawing at me turned my hands and feet to ice. The cold crept up my body, sending shivers through me, and the void seeped in—not just around me, butintome.
My hand grasped the wall for support. With little strength left, I growled at Cindy, who was still smirking. Those damn papers raised high above her head. “Cindy,” I shook my head, pleading. “Don’t.”
Too loud…
She closed the distance with a lingering stride. “You remember now, don’t you, baby?” My head pulsed with every beat of the sound.
Yes, I remembered.Blood.So much blood. My mum was lying there, eyes open and red.
I shook my head, noise crashing in from every direction.
My dad, who had betrayed her, was holding a woman with long black hair, not my mum’s blonde hair, caressing a woman with olive skin, not my mum’s pale white skin.
I couldn’t breathe.
Drop by drop, sweat slid down my face. I dug my nails into my palms, again and again, trying to summon pain because... it was as if I watched myself from a distance, standing there and listening, as she spoke again. “I never meant to hurt you like this, Zi.” Her tone was sing-song, “You forced me!”
“Cindy—”
She crept nearer, raising the photos of my mum, soaked in blood, shattered, high before my eyes. “Look closely, Zi. You remember the beginning of your ruin.”Please stop.“Hhh—”stop.“Hhh—”I couldn’t breathe.
My body jerked, trembling beyond my control.
I shook my head harder, pounding it with my fists. I was about to hurl myself at Cindy, who drew closer with those papers—
Then the lift chimed.
Both our heads snapped towards it.
This scent…
The scent spilling out from the lift sent me spiralling, sending my heart skittering to a stop. No.No, no, no.
I recognised this scent and knew it better than anything, but I prayed it wouldn’t be her.
Please, God,no.
Not now, not like this. Tshabina couldn’t be here, not in this state, not seeing me like this.Not when this devil is here!
Yet everything stilled the moment Tshabina stepped out of the lift. At first, she didn’t notice, eyes on her phone, walking into the hall. But her gaze narrowed when she lifted her head, and her steps halted. Her face went pale as she read the scene before her.
Baby… I loathe when this happens to me, but right now… I wish you weren’t real.
Her eyes moved from Cindy to me. She looked at me, saw me breathless, trembling with dread. And it tore me apart.
Cindy’s smile widened when she saw Tshabina. She tried to move towards her, but I seized her wrist, yanking her back. Forcing this shit woman to a halt. “Don’t you fucking dare,” I growled, dark and low. I was shaking, fighting to gather what pieces of myself I could still cling to. I had to act while I still had control and sanity.
I turned to Tshabina. She stood frozen, watching me, her brows furrowing. She was about to call my name, but Cindy lunged first. Her hands clamped tight around my face, pressing it hard and holding me in place. I tried to shove her off, but she clung on. Her face pressed closer, and I shoved her back with a snarl.
This bloody shit, just fucking die already!
Cindy was flung away, but quick as ever, she snatched one of my AirPods and leaned close, whispering into my ear.
There was a sharp glint in her eyes. Her smile stretched wider, and then, she began to whisper. “Look at her,” Cindy murmured, and through the corner of her eye, I saw Tshabina. She was still standing there, staring at me.
