Orelia began to read. Each word pierced his heart as if the syllables were minute acerbic arrows. This assault was the final straw and as weak as he was now something had begun to grow inside. A determination to find a way to beat her.

Fiverr and internet trolls were amateur hour. Messing with her schedule was small time. To rid himself of this malicious pain in his life, he must do more. If he was to return to writing works of meaning, Orelia needed to be gone.

He kept his eyes closed and imagined all the things he might do to her including running a knife across her throat. He hated blood, but in her case, he’d make an exception. Even though he was determined to stay awake, her voice became a murmur away in the distance, beyond an ocean of gently undulating waves of words. As he fell back onto a giant book that morphed into an island an answer to all his troubles swooped down from the sky. He reached up and pulled the idea in to his heart.

This half-asleep moment was his line in the sand. The bookmark on the page of this battle for his future, his life, maybe even his soul. When next they’d meet, one thing he would do his darnedest to ensure. Orelia would not be soo happy. In fact, the only thing she’d be was gone. He’d played before with small tokens of revenge. Now things were about to get real.

23

Near the end of summer vacation, Peg called Nem into the kitchen. Ray sat at the table, while her foster-mom stood at the counter pouring iced tea into two glasses.

Handing the glass to Nem, she motioned for her to sit down and said, “Would you like a slice of sponge cake, sweetheart?”

Nem nodded but was instantly concerned by Peg’s seemingly forced smile. Oh no, was this the day she would be told she must leave? That they could no longer take care of her?

Her mouth felt instantly dry and she took a large slurp of the drink. How could she eat anything when her life was about to change again? She shook her head as a no.

“We’ve got some news, honey.”

Peg smiled at Ray and then back at Nem, her smile was nearly as wide as her cheeks. Ray’s smile was less generous, but his eyes sparkled as a piece of cake was deposited before him.

Maybe this wasn’t going to be bad news. But Peg kept rubbing her hands back and forth on her arms and she only did that when she was upset or nervous. These mixed messages puzzled her; she couldn’t imagine what would make her foster-mother nervous and happy at the same time.

Peg sat beside Nem and reached for her hands, squeezing them tight as if afraid Nem would run away. She may have sensed Nem’s reticence because she added, “Don’t be afraid.”

Nem still expected heartbreaking news and her body tensed for the worst as she pushed back unexpected brimming tears. So when she heard the first words, seconds passed before she began to understand.