"It smells so good!" Glenn smelled the aroma, climbed out of bed, and drooled as he leaned against the window. "Dad, what are you eating?"
The scar-faced man heard him, glanced back, and handed him a skewer of pork belly.
"Thanks, Dad!" Glenn took the skewer and sniffed it hard. "It smells so, so good!" he said, swallowing his saliva.
He turned to look at Willow. "Sister, we’re having barbecue!"
Willow rolled over, her back to him, and replied in a muffled voice, "I don’t want any. I’m going to sleep. You eat it."
"It smells really good, though. Are you sure you don’t want any, Sister?" Glenn asked in surprise.
The scar-faced man must have heard them, as he shouted, "Just eat it yourself. Don’t mind her."
"But I want to share with my sister..." Glenn’s voice trailed off.
"Hurry up and eat. Go to sleep when you’re done," the scar-faced man urged.
"Okay," Glenn answered quietly.
Willow closed her eyes, her mind filled with the words her mother had said before she disappeared.
’James, can you please stop forcing me?’
’I really can’t do it. I’m begging you, please stop pushing me, okay?’
’James, I’m your wife! I’m not some woman who just sells herself on the street!’
’Ah! It hurts... I’m in so much pain...’
Willow curled up tightly, not daring to think any further.
’Mom must have been beaten by James Yelric again that day.’
’He’s so awful. He hits Mom for no reason.’
Ever since Glenn got a little older, Willow was often woken up in the middle of the night. James Yelric would get drunk and always beat their mother.
One time, Willow mustered the courage to run out and protect her mother, telling James Yelric to stop hitting her.
But he was drunk and acting like a madman. He didn’t just hit their mother; he was going to hit her, too.
She and her mother were both terrified.
Her mother knelt on the floor, begging James Yelric not to hurt Willow.
After that day, her mother warned Willow not to get up, no matter what she heard at night.
The more Willow tried not to remember, the more the sounds she heard that night echoed in her mind.
She had heard her mother crying nonstop.
Her mother had said it hurt so, so much...
’The pain must have been unbearable. That’s why Mom left all by herself, in secret.’
Willow clenched her small fists, making a secret vow in her heart.
’One day, I’ll leave this place and find Mom.’
’I’ll get away from James Yelric, who turns into a monster whenever he drinks.’
CRASH—
Willow was startled awake by the sound of shattering glass.
Her eyelashes trembled, but she didn’t dare open her eyes.
James Yelric, completely drunk, smashed an empty liquor bottle on the floor, cursing, "Fuck, everyone’s pushing me! You’re all a bunch of fucking good-for-nothings!"
He used the balcony railing to pull himself up and staggered into the house.
Glancing at the two children sleeping soundly in the room, James Yelric kicked the door panel. Seeing no reaction from either of them, he turned and went back to the living room to smoke.
A moment later, he suddenly kicked over the small table in front of him and roared angrily, "Polly Eames, why the fuck won’t you help me?"
Glenn, who had been sound asleep, was startled awake. He mumbled, "What was that sound?"
Willow quickly covered his mouth, signaling him to be quiet.
’James Yelric is going crazy again. It’ll be terrible if he storms in here and hits me and my brother.’
James Yelric grabbed a stool, stormed furiously into the kitchen, and started smashing it against the freezer, which was sealed with tape. Each blow was harder than the last.
"I’m about to be ruined, and you’re still trying to play the chaste martyr?"
Willow hugged her little brother as hot tears streamed from the corners of her eyes.
She suddenly felt incredibly relieved.
Relieved that her mother had already left this place.
Otherwise, she would have been beaten again tonight, beaten until it hurt so, so much.
**
「The next day, the sun was shining brightly in a clear, cloudless sky.」
Renee Jennings left right after breakfast.