Lights flash behind me and then an engine cuts off. I turn to see a shiny black car idling. I know immediately who it is without anyone getting out of the vehicle or rolling down the windows. I should’ve stopped at the convenience store two blocks back and bought a carton of eggs. In fact, I’m going to do that immediately. I turn on my wet heel and stomp toward the store. I’m going to buy two cartons and I’m going to paint that shiny black vehicle with so much egg that it’s going to look like an omelet when I’m done.

“Hara,” a brisk voice calls out.

I keep walking. An engine purrs to life and I can practically feel the heat of the vehicle at my heels. I speed up. The car does as well. “Hara. Hara,” the voice calls.

I run, only I can’t see because it’s so damn dark in this alley, and I don’t notice the large rock until my toe hits it and I go flying face-first onto the asphalt.

“Omo!” Brakes screech. A car door slams. There’s a clatter of heels and then a soft hand at my shoulder.

I jerk away. “I don’t need your help.”

“You are wet and uncomfortable. If you stay out in that condition you are likely to get sick and then you will blame me for that as well.”

Wansu isn’t wrong, but I’m too mad to acknowledge this. I struggle to my feet and force myself to move. The big black car keeps pace behind me. Wansu clips along, her high heels clicking against the pavement.

“What do you want?” she asks. “I have money and I’m happy to provide for you.”

“Money?” I screech to a halt and whirl on my mother. “You think money is what I want from you?”

“Then what is it?” Wansu appears to be legitimately confused, and that is all the more infuriating.

“You’re my mother! You gave birth to me! You carried me in your body for nine months and all you want to do is buy me off?”

“That’s right, I did,” Wansu says, her voice as chilly as the clothes clinging to my body. “I gave birth to you. I nurtured you. I did not throw you away. I placed you outside of a police station and waited there until someone found you and took you inside. I gave you up so you could have a better life. And now that you have sought me out, against my wishes, I am willing to provide for you like a mother does. What more do you want?”

I want you to love me, my heart cries out, but there’s no point in admitting that. No point in laying my heart out there to be trampled on. I’ve got some pride left. “Nothing. Literally nothing, which is why I’m walking away. You’re the one following me, trying to erase your guilt by throwing money at my face.”

“Maybe I am. How much will it take?”