Once the divorce was finalized, Jim was quick to head back to his overseas job.

He planned to send me to a boarding school, just like he had arranged for Johnny before.

But I refused.

When Grandma was still with us, she ran the household since Karen was mostly out playing cards, only coming home to eat.

When she won, she'd bring little toys for Johnny.

Picking him up, she'd coo, "Missed Mommy, sweetie?"

But when she lost, it was a different story.

I was her target, always finding some fault to yell about.

After blowing off steam, she'd lighten up and say, "Be good, Jessie. Mommy doesn't like it when you misbehave."

I was always good. I learned all the chores from Grandma, hoping it might make Karen love me a bit more.

By third grade, I was cooking full meals.

After Grandma passed, I took over all the chores.

So, looking after myself was no big deal.

Jim knew it too. He just gave me a bank card and set up a regular transfer.

That was enough. Love might be scarce, but at least I had money.

Today was the moving day for Karen and Johnny.

They were relocating to another building in the same complex.

I remember they lived there in my past life too.

Karen had chosen it just to be closer to her son.

If there were any open units in this building, she'd have moved right next door.

I watched the whole ordeal from my door, crunching on an apple.

Karen was sweating it out, hauling boxes in and out.

Meanwhile, Johnny was sprawled on the couch, yelling obscenities at his video game buddies.

Quite the scene.

Back then, I felt sorry for her and thought she was too frail to handle the move. I did all the heavy lifting, and even hurt my back in the process.

I tried to get some sympathy by playing the helpless girl.

"Kids don't have backs. Just rub where you said it hurts and be tough."

Her response was less than sympathetic.

"Your brother helped a lot and didn't complain once. Stop whining."

"Hurry up and finish moving. Clean up the house; your brother's had a long day. I'm taking him out for dinner."

Johnny had barely lifted a few hangers on top of the two boxes I was carrying.

Thinking back, I was a fool, blindly craving any bit of motherly love from Karen.

I never stopped to question whether she really loved me.

It took losing my life to snap out of it.

Thankfully, fate didn't give up on me and gave me a second shot. I must cherish it.

This time, I'm putting myself first.

"Jessie Rivers, you think you're hot stuff now, huh? Get over here and help your mom!"

"What, you need an invitation?" Karen snapped, clearly exhausted from moving and irritated by my calm demeanor.

I chucked the apple core in the trash and flashed her a bright, innocent smile.

"Oh, Mom, look at me, just standing around. How could I have been so thoughtless not to help you move stuff?"

"At least you've got some sense. Now grab this box and get moving, my arms are killing me."

Karen tried to pass the heavy load to me.

I dodged swiftly, stepping aside at the doorway and nudging the box back into her hands.

She nearly toppled over.

I couldn't suppress a snicker.

"Mom, I meant I shouldn't be standing here blocking your way. That was my bad."

"I ought to be sitting on that couch, gaming like Johnny!" I glanced over at Johnny lounging on the couch.

Looks like Mom's perfect little world isn't so cozy after all.

Karen, seething, followed my gaze.

Johnny, totally absorbed in his game, hadn't noticed any of the fuss.

"Johnny! What are you doing? Get over here and help with the boxes!"

I'd say, the facade of familial bliss was crumbling.

It was clear that someone else had been supporting it and holding it whole for them before.

Without someone else to carry the burden, Karen's maternal façade wasn't holding up.

"Karen, shut the hell up! Can't you see I'm gaming here?" Johnny retorted without missing a beat.

Frustrated, Karen turned to find another target for her ire—me.

Too bad, I was already grabbing my backpack and heading out to the library. All she caught was my back as I left.

"Jessie, you little bitch, you...!"

"Keep it down, lady, there are kids trying to sleep!" A neighbor intervened from across the hall.

Embarrassed, Karen fell silent.

She was just another bully, tough only toward me