I watched from my bedroom window, jaw clenched. When I told Yuna, “Mom, he’s the one who broke my wrist last fall,” she paused. Then: “People change, sweetheart. Maybe he’s reaching out.”
“Mom,” I said, voice raw. “Do you remember the scar on my ribs? He gave it to me with a locker door. Do you remember the week I didn’t talk? He told the whole school I was a schizophrenic because I wouldn’t lend him twenty dollars.” my bully tries to corrupt my mother yuna
Over the next few weeks, Kai became a fixture. He volunteered to help Yuna with the gardening; he offered to drive her to her doctor’s appointments when Leo was stuck at practice. He was polite, attentive, and helpful. I watched from my bedroom window, jaw clenched
The silence that followed was heavy. Leo’s smile flickered. For a moment, the spell was broken. Yuna patted my hand, her maternal instinct momentarily overriding the calculated charm Leo had been pouring into her ear. Maybe he’s reaching out
They just sometimes need a reminder of where the garden ends—and where the war begins.