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I knew she was.

I’d seen the tear.

However, I’d been waiting on her hand and foot, along with my parents and hers.

She’d milked the hell out of this.

I’d walked into the room plenty of times and seen her moving around just fine.

Then, when she saw me, she’d go practically inert again, as if she hadn’t been moving just fine.

Mom and Dad had seen it, too.

Her parents were older and gullible.

They thought she was still hurt, so they were here almost every day waiting on her right along with the rest of us.

She’d barely even changed Shelby’s diaper.

Today would be the first day that she was actually alone with her.

“Who is this person, anyway?”

“Darla Darling’s father,” I reported. “I’ll be back.”

The name Darla Darling had her stiffening instantly.

Darla and Marcia hated each other.

They were in the same graduating class at school and had apparently hated each other ever since.

Any mention of Darla always had Marcia’s hackles raised.

“Probably deserved it,” Marcia murmured.

I ignored her comments and walked out the door.

Seven years later

“Where are you going?”

I looked at my wife and wished that she wasn’t my wife.

“Daddy!”

I looked over at my daughter, and wished her mother wasn’t actually her mother.

“Hey, baby.” I smiled.

“Are you going to work?”

I nodded. “I am. Someone got drunk and hurt someone.”

Shelby frowned. “Are you going to arrest them?”

“Sure am,” I offered. “Gotta go, I love you.”

She squeezed my neck tight. “See you when you get home, Daddy!”