My mom was the head faculty advisor for my program. She lived in fear that someone would accuse her of playing
favorites.
When my roommates skipped class to go out partying, she let them off with a gentle warning. When I ran a 103–degree fever and uploaded my doctor’s note, she publicly humiliated me in the class chat.
[Absence request denied. Zero tolerance for malingering. Points deducted. Let this be a lesson to all of you.]
I’d pulled all–nighters to earn the dean’s scholarship. She gave it to some well–connected student who was barely passing
his classes.
I argued back, eyes burning, begging. She slapped me across the face hard enough to split my lip.
“Give it to you? People would say I was playing favorites, bending the rules for my own kid!”
On Christmas Eve, relatives were praising her fairness when she turned to me with a bright, practiced smile. “I heard you
left your internship early the other day. Said you weren’t feeling well?”
Panic spiked through me. I rushed to explain I’d caught a stomach bug.
The words were barely out before she grabbed my arm and dragged me out onto the terrace. “Making excuses over a
stomach ache? Is this how you repay me?”
“No Christmas dinner for you. You stay out here and think about what you’ve done!”
The door slammed shut, and the freezing wind cut right through my clothes. That was it, Mom.
This was the last time I’d cover for you.
I walked out of the faculty office with my ear burning. Something wet trickled down from the top of my ear.
I touched it, and my fingers came away bright red.
“Oh my God, we’re in the home stretch and Ms. Miller still went that hard on her? She actually ripped Florence’s ear?
“I heard she’s balancing an internship on top of this project and Ms. Miller’s still not satisfied. She treats her own daughter like that, but she coddles everyone else on the team…”
Their whispers felt like pins in my back. I kept my head down and used my stiff. frozen hand to wipe away the blood tracking down my neck.
Earlier, in the project office, everyone had been wrapping up the competition materials She’d hurled iny materials anto the desk and jabbed her finger toward my face, nearly poking my bloodshot eyes
This is what you came up with after three days and twelve revisions? What the hell is wrong with you?”
Chapter 1
She grabbed my ear and wrenched it hard, her nails digging into the flesh. “We’re the only team in this whole school
working through Christmas Eve! You’re my daughter, which means you need to set an example!”
Her voice rang through the office. The other team members hunched over their keyboards, pretending not to watch.
“I’ll submit this garbage, out of respect for everyone else’s work. You’re lucky I’m letting this go!”
She let go and shoved me away like I was trash. My ear had gone numb. All I could hear was a high, thin ringing, and all
I could feel was the blood.
As I turned to leave, I heard her speak to one of the team members in a voice I almost didn’t recognize. “Leo, excellent
work. I already had the TA submit your materials straight to the committee.”
“Don’t push yourself too hard. Your mother asked me to look out for you.”
My chest tightened. He’d lifted his work straight from my first draft. Of course she loved it.
I couldn’t bring myself to call her out. I just hunched my shoulders and hurried out of the office.
Holiday music drifted from somewhere far off, bright, and completely out of reach. I made my way back to the empty
dorm, my face blank, and started stuffing my belongings into two beat–up duffel bags.
My three roommates were already gone. Their parents had picked them up hours ago, laughing and making holiday
plans as they climbed into their cars.
I had a mom too. She worked right here on campus, just a few buildings away.
But my mom, my academic advisor Ms. Miller, had called earlier. Her voice left no room for argument.
“Get yourself home for the holidays. I’m not raising a princess. And don’t expect a ride from me. What would people
think if they saw me picking up my own daughter?”
I murmured something to the dead line, though she’d already hung up. I bent under the weight of the two duffel bags.
one in each hand, and stumbled out of the dorm.
They were so heavy I had to stop every few steps, gasping for breath. When I finally reached the school gate. I spotted my
mom’s car.
She stood beside it, smiling in a way I’d never seen before. She was talking to some girl in trendy clothes
“Come on, get in before you freeze. Here, let me help with your bags. You girls shouldn’t be lugging all that around”
Thank you so much. Ms. Miller! I really appreciate the ride in this weather!”
The girl beamed at her. My mom’s smile held until she noticed me. Then her expression hardened
I opened my mouth to call out. My hand lifted weakly toward her. She turned away, got in the car, and drove off
I stood there, freezing. My face had stopped hurting Everything just felt distant.
Chapter 1
This wasn’t new. I’d been through it all before.
I’d been punished for my roommates‘ mistakes. Slapped over paperwork errors. Watched her hand my scholarship to
some dean’s favorite…
I should’ve been used to it by now. My nose burned. I tilted my head back and let the snow fall on my face. It almost
never snowed in Silveridge.
My phone buzzed. A message from her.
[Get your ass home. Your aunt and uncle are coming over. Don’t embarrass me.]
I stared at the message until the screen went black. Then I typed back one word.
[Okay.]
But Mom, I can’t do this anymore. It hurts too much.
