Chapter 3

3

I hung up, grabbed my bag, and opened the door.

The noise outside stopped. A gaggle of nosy neighbors stared at me with disapproval.

One of them piped up, "Ashley, we've watched you grow up. Your mom's a good woman. Why don't you help her around the house instead of being so lazy?"

Another chimed in, "You know how hard your mom works to take care of you. If it wasn't for you, she'd have a much easier life."

My mom put on a weak voice, "Oh, it's nothing."

"Nothing? She almost hit you! You ungrateful brat!"

I walked to the door, nudging a foot out of the way. "Excuse me."

I stepped out, ignoring the shrieks and protests behind me.

My mom wasn't letting it go. That evening, she invited my aunt, uncle, and Kevin over.

"Ashley, your uncle's family is having some trouble, so Kevin will be staying with us for a while. He'll be in your room."

I frowned. "So, I sleep on the couch? Or you sleep on the couch and I take your room?"

My mom, busy serving Kevin dinner, said casually, "You can share your room. You're practically siblings."

I shut my mouth and glanced at Kevin. He'd obviously heard. He grinned. "Cousin Ashley, don't flatter yourself. I have a different girlfriend every day!"

My mom clapped her hands. "My Kevin is such a stud! Don't worry. Girls these days value purity. Once she has your baby, we'll have her wrapped around our little finger!"

I put down my fork. "I'm done."

My aunt and uncle left after dinner, leaving Kevin behind.

I knew he'd be in my room, so I grabbed my blanket and pillow and made a bed on the couch. I wouldn't be staying here much longer. I needed to get to my dad's.

Later, I was half asleep when I felt someone touching me.

I bolted upright. It was Kevin, who should have been in my room.

He leered, his face grotesque in the moonlight. "Cousin Ashley, I heard you're still a virgin. Might as well keep it in the family. Let me have a taste before some other guy does."

I slapped him and screamed for help.

Nothing. My mom's room remained silent. Enraged, Kevin grabbed my hair, yanked me to the floor, and backhanded me twice. "You bitch! Don't play hard to get!"

I managed to knock a glass off the coffee table. The shattering sound finally roused the neighbors.

With them about to come knocking, my mom emerged.

She took one look at me on the floor, then turned to Kevin with concern. "He was just playing, Ashley. Why did you have to hit him? If you tell anyone about this, you'll regret it."

I realized then that she knew what Kevin was planning. She just didn't care.

Seeing his plan foiled, Kevin slunk back to my room.

I couldn't sleep. I grabbed a fruit knife from the kitchen and sat on the couch, wide awake, until dawn. Then I grabbed my ID and phone and caught the first bus to the city.