You Don’t Get Us Back, Mom

Ever since my little brother died of a sudden high fever and Mom started spending all her time with Matthew Hunt, I started cutting her out of our family photos. One day, Dad got a call from my teacher. She overheard me saying I lost my mom, and I wanted to borrow my classmate's mom instead. Dad paused for a moment, then didn't correct me. "Yeah," he said quietly. "She passed away early." At the school's parent-child sports day, Dad saw me slip a cleaner ten dollars and ask her to be my mom for the day. He didn't stop me. Instead, he handed her another 200 bucks and asked if she could attend the parent meeting, too. After that, whenever something called for a mom, Dad let me go out and "hire" one. It wasn't until much later that Mom realized she hadn't heard from us in a long time. She canceled her meetings and came to pick me up from school herself. But at the gate, the teacher frowned and stopped her. Confused, she went home. The moment she stepped inside, she heard me talking to the property manager. "My mom's dead," I said. "Do you wanna be my new mom?" Chapter 1 Alicia's POV The wall inside our home was covered in award photos, but every woman standing beside Dad and me was a stranger. "Simon! Who are these women in the pictures?" Mom's voice was cold, her eyes locked on the wall as if she could burn straight through it. I had no idea why she was so angry. I stood there helplessly, at a loss for what to say. The property manager wiped the sweat from her forehead, clearly uncomfortable. "Kid, you can't say things like that. Your mom's still alive." She then left quickly, embarrassed. That only made Mom angrier. The corner of her mouth twitched, and she didn't even notice the cake slipping from her hand and hitting the floor. "You'd better come out here, Simon! I've only been gone two months, and you're telling people I'm dead? Is this what you've been teaching our daughter?" I ran over, scared she would blame him. "It's not Dad's fault! He didn't teach me that. I said it on my own!" Her expression darkened. She started pulling photo frames off the wall, ready to smash them, then stopped when she noticed the competition titles printed beneath the pictures. Her hands froze. She looked at me, something complicated flickering in her eyes. I stood there, tense, waiting. What she didn't know was that after she stopped coming home two months ago, every time there was a parent-child event, Dad quietly paid someone to be my mom. The noise must have carried, because Dad came out of the bedroom. In just two months, his eyes had gone dull, his steps unsteady. He had lost so much weight that he looked almost hollow. When he saw Mom, he didn't shout or cry or talk about divorce. He didn't lose control or force her to choose between him and Matthew Hunt. He just looked at her, his gaze cold and empty. Mom fell silent. Guilt flickered across her face. As if remembering something, she hurriedly pulled a brand new camera from her bag and handed it to him, her tone softening. "I got you the camera you've always wanted. You said you wanted to get back into photography. I've already submitted your work to an international competition." Dad glanced at it without expression. There wasn't even a hint of surprise. I recognized the camera immediately. It was the one he had saved in his cart for two years. He never bought it because money was tight. When he finally asked Mom, she kept putting him off. What she didn't know was that the one she bought was already outdated. Dad had already bought the newer model himself. She frowned at his reaction, then sighed and pressed the camera into his hands, her voice turning coaxing. "Alright, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have argued with you when you were already hurting after Brian passed. Don't worry. Things with Matthew are almost wrapped up. Just wait a little longer." Wait a little longer. I clenched my fists and stared at her. She had said that dozens of times in the past two months and never once followed through. Dad held on through my baby brother's death in the hospital. He held on even as his depression got so bad that he started hurting himself. Even then, she never came back. All she ever said was, "I told you, he's my mentor's son. He's like a brother to me. Why are you still making a scene?" Her phone rang suddenly. She picked up quickly and put the call on speaker. A child's crying came through. "Mom, come back! Dad's burning up. He collapsed and won't get up!" Then a man's voice rang out, sharp and impatient. "Why are you calling her? We can't keep bothering her!" I frowned, anger rising, ready to shout, "She's not your mom. She's mine!" But Mom's eyes turned red. Her voice shook. "Matthew, what are you talking about? I wish you'd rely on me forever." She tossed the camera onto the bed and grabbed her bag. "Simon, Matthew might be exhausted. I'm going to go check on him. I'll explain when I get back." She rushed out. Dad and I watched her leave. We both knew she wasn't coming back tonight. Chapter 2 Dad picked up the camera Mom gave him and opened the gallery. It was full of photos of Mom with Matthew and his daughter, Nora Hunt. I saw it clearly. The day my brother Brian Dawson died, Mom had been at an amusement park with them, riding the Ferris wheel. When Dad spiraled into depression and nearly bled out after hurting himself, Mom had been watching fireworks with them. My chest tightened, and I started crying. So she did have time. She just never gave it to Dad. Dad's whole body trembled as he pulled me into his arms, his voice rough but steady. "Alicia, your mom's dead. Right?" I nodded quickly. Something in him seemed to settle. He raised the camera and hurled it against the wall, where it shattered on impact. I knew his heart had broken the same way. That night, just before I fell asleep, I heard him on the phone. "I'll take the photography position in Dalecrest. I'll be there in a week." Half-asleep, I thought of who Dad used to be: a world-renowned photographer. Whenever he released a new piece, wealthy collectors and celebrities would bid outrageous amounts for it. He gave it all up for Mom and stayed in Lowridge, working a dead-end job that paid barely enough to get by while enduring constant humiliation. A small smile tugged at my lips. In seven days, Dad would have his life back. - Only five days left. Right after school, I heard loud banging coming from the apartment. When I walked in, Mom, who hadn't been home for two days, was packing the trophies Dad and I had won into shipping boxes. The princess dresses and limited-edition dolls Dad had saved up to buy for me were tossed in as well, like they meant nothing. My head felt light as I looked toward Dad. His face was cold, his hands clenched so tightly that they trembled. "Lauren, what's wrong with you? You've been gone two days without even checking on Alicia, and the second you come back, you're packing up her things for them?" Mom didn't seem bothered. She picked up a trophy and turned it over in her hands with a faint smile. "I don't want to do this either, but if you hadn't shown off Alicia’s achievements online, Matthew and Nora wouldn't have gotten upset. Alicia has plenty. What's wrong with letting a motherless kid have some of it?" Dad let out a sharp, disbelieving laugh, his eyes reddening with disappointment. "I've never shown off. That’s your bias talking. Alicia and I worked for those trophies. While you're busy comforting someone else's husband and kid, did you ever think about your own daughter?" I stood there, stunned. I couldn't remember when Mom had become like this. There was a time when if Dad and I wanted cannoli, even if no one in the city made them, Mom would fly across the country to learn how. Now, she was giving our things to someone else. Dad took a slow breath, as though he had finally seen her for who she was. He picked up his phone and sent a message to the reporter who had invited us for an interview. "We’ll take the father-daughter interview. Tomorrow at seven. Apartment 302, Lakeview Apartments." "What are you doing?" Mom snatched the phone from his hand. Dad tilted his head slightly and looked down at her, his gaze steady and cold. "If they want the trophies, they'll have to earn them. If they can handle the interview, they can have them." Mom pressed her lips tight, then gave a short, bitter laugh. "Do you really have to take it this far? What happened to you?" She forced herself to calm down and told the workers to carry out the last box. Before leaving, she glanced at Dad, confusion and disappointment filling her eyes. "You used to be reasonable. You never made things difficult for anyone. Anyway, I'll return everything after I'm done with it. Cancel the interview." I stared at the floor, my chest tight. Used to? Like she hadn’t changed herself. "You're not leaving. Give Alicia's things back…" "Dad," I cut in. I turned to Mom and shook my head. "I don't want them anymore. You can give them away." Something lit up in her eyes. She smiled and patted my head. "That's my good girl!" After she left, I looked around the empty room, took ten dollars from my piggy bank, and reached for Dad's hand. His eyes were still red as I led him downstairs to the neighbor's door. "I'll give you ten dollars. Can you be my mom for one night? It's my dad's birthday today." Chapter 3 Paige Winter's voice came out strained. "Did Lauren…" "She's dead," Dad and I cut her off at the same time. Something in her expression shifted, but she didn't ask any questions. She simply followed us to the restaurant. When it was time to blow out the candles, I started singing, getting ready to wish Dad a happy birthday, when his phone lit up. He flinched, his fingers trembling as he unlocked it. I leaned over without thinking. The moment I saw the screen, it felt like all the blood drained from my body. Matthew had posted something. [I love smashing things, but she never complains. She even smiles and hands them to me.] The photo showed our trophies shattered across the floor, while the toys I had treasured so much that I barely dared touch them had been smeared with paint. Another notification popped up. Mom had transferred ten thousand dollars. Dad tapped the attached voice message, and the sound of things breaking burst from the speaker. "Something happened to the trophies. Take the money and buy Alicia a few new ones." My vision blurred with tears. Money couldn't replace what we had lost. Dad squeezed his eyes shut, then silently took screenshots before sending a voice message to a lawyer. "Mr. Green, these are photos of Lauren with Matthew, along with records of the large transfers she's made. Submit the evidence and proceed with the divorce." Dad never replied to Mom that night, no matter how many times she called. [Hey, I'm sorry I forgot your birthday. Why did you send me the money back? Why are you acting like this again? Are you done yet? The reporters went to interview Matthew and his daughter. You made things awkward for him. Are you happy now?] Dad read every message. For the first time, he didn't cry. He simply blocked Mom on WhatsApp. She wouldn't hear from him again. Three days left. There was a parent-child competition in the city. Mom had promised over and over that she would be there. I sat on the bench waiting, my hand wrapped around Dad's. Five minutes passed. Then thirty. She never showed. Suddenly, Dad's phone rang. It was Mom. "There's a problem with a project at work. I have to go in today. I'll make it up to Alicia." She hadn't even finished speaking before Dad hung up and blocked her number. I forced a smile, about to comfort him, when a familiar voice drifted over. "Mom, you're the best! With you here, we're definitely gonna win!" My mind went blank as I turned toward the sound and saw Mom holding another child in her arms. I looked up at Dad in confusion. "Didn't Mom say she had work?" He shot to his feet and started toward her, but I grabbed his hand and shook my head. "The race is starting." He hesitated for a moment before slowly sitting back down. It was a relay race. If I could sprint 200 yards and get the baton into Dad's hand, we would win a family trip around the world. A small spark of hope flickered to life inside me. The starting gun fired, and I took off with everything I had. Fifty yards. One hundred fifty. One ninety… Sweat blurred my vision as I raised the baton, just about to pass it to Dad, when a gust of wind rushed past. Someone slammed into me from the side, sending me crashing to the ground. Chapter 4 The moment I hit the ground, blood spread across my knees. The pain hit so hard that my eyes filled with tears, and a cry slipped out before I could stop it. Beside me, Nora suddenly screamed, sharp and loud. "Why did you push me? Mom, it hurts!" She was on the ground as well, crying so loudly that it rang in my ears. Dad rushed over immediately and pulled me into his arms, shielding me. But Mom and Matthew ran up and started accusing me. "Alicia, why did you push Nora?" "I didn't!" I shouted, forcing the words past the lump in my throat. Nora pointed at me, crying harder. "She did! She pushed me on purpose!" Anger surged up so fast that it left me breathless. Dad's voice turned cold. "Check the surveillance. If you don't trust Alicia, let the security footage speak for itself." Mom didn't answer. She picked Nora up and turned away, tossing a sentence over her shoulder. "Please. The footage will only make her look worse." They hurried toward the first aid station. My face went pale. I reached up and touched Dad's face with my small hand. "Don't worry. I'm not hurt…" Then everything went black. When I opened my eyes again, cheers filled the air. "Congratulations to Nora Hunt for winning the relay!" I lowered my head as tears fell one after another. I ran faster than her. So why was she the winner? Did Mom do something? Before the thought could settle, Dad's expression darkened. He walked straight toward Matthew. "Oh, Simon," Matthew said with a smirk. "You didn't have to come congratulate my daughter." He leaned closer, lowering his voice. "Honestly, thanks. If Lauren hadn't helped us, who knows how we'd be living right now. And really, that championship should've been yours. But Lauren's too kind. She can't stand to see us upset…" The next second, Dad's fist connected with his face, cutting him off. Dad grabbed him by the collar and yanked him upright. "I warned you. Stay away from my daughter!" Matthew's shout brought Mom running over. "Simon, have you lost it? You didn't win, so now you're taking it out on Matthew?" Dad's eyes were red. "Yeah. I want both of you to pay for this." Before he could move again, Mom shoved him hard. He stumbled back, clutching his throat, his face draining of color. That was when I realized his depression was acting up again. I fumbled in my pocket for his emergency medication and ran toward him, limping. "Dad…" Just as I got close, something caught my foot, and I went down hard on my back. The medicine flew from my hand and skidded across the ground. Nora stepped on it, smiling. "No!" The scream tore out of my throat. That was the only thing that could keep Dad stable. The doctor said if he missed it, things could get bad fast. Tears blurred my vision as I scrambled to my feet and reached for it. "Alicia, don't push Nora!" Matthew suddenly shouted. Before I could even react, Mom shoved me aside without a second thought. Behind me was the lake. As I stumbled backward, Dad rushed forward to catch me. He went into the water instead. A loud splash echoed across the lake as he struggled to stay afloat. I clutched Mom's leg, sobbing. "Help him, Mom! He can't swim. And he has depression!" She froze, her eyes snapping toward the lake. Then Matthew called out, "Nora, are you okay?" Mom stopped. She turned around, scooped Nora into her arms, and simply told her assistant to pull Dad out before walking away. I watched her leave, feeling something inside me rip apart. Was she really leaving us? After Dad was taken to the hospital, I pulled the last ten dollars from my pocket and handed it to the nurse. "Could you be my mom for just one day and take care of my dad?" She hesitated. "Where's your mom?" I looked at her quietly. "She's dead." She died the moment she chose another man over Dad. Chapter 5 One day left. Dad packed our bags and took me to get my visa. These past few days, Mom came by every day to see him. Whenever she saw the nurse acting as my "mom," her expression would tighten. "Alicia already has me. What's wrong with you, Simon? Do you really need another woman around?" Dad and I said nothing. The nurse snapped at her instead. Later, Mom brought Dad a pile of new clothes and bought me a stack of toys. After she left, we gave everything away to the kids who were fighting cancer. Five hours left. Dad took me to the amusement park I had always wanted to visit. "I know you've always wanted to come here, but I kept putting it off because of my condition. I'm sorry." I broke into a huge grin. Then my watch buzzed with a message from Mom. [Alicia, tell your dad I've already sent Matthew overseas. I'll celebrate his birthday tonight.] Something stirred in my chest, but the next moment, I saw her. She was with Matthew, walking close beside him. I didn't tell Dad. I blocked her on my watch. She was lying again. Just as Dad and I were about to get on a ride, the park alarm suddenly blared. Four rabid dogs, eyes bloodshot, broke through the crowd and charged straight at us. Dad grabbed my hand, about to pull me away, but the crowd surged, and I was shoved aside. "Alicia!" Fear locked my legs in place. Then Mom's voice cut through the chaos. "Alicia, come here. Come to me!" My eyes burned as I ran toward her. Matthew suddenly shouted, "Lauren, Nora's still over there. Save her!" Mom looked at me, then at Nora in the distance. Dad's voice went hoarse from shouting. "Lauren, save Alicia! Someone else will help Nora!" Mom hesitated. Then she looked at me. "Alicia, wait for me." Wait for her. Again. She turned, picked Nora up, and ran the other way. As the dogs closed in around me, something inside me went quiet. Right as they attacked, Dad ran toward me like a madman, a wooden stick in his hand. The dogs tore into his leg. Blood soaked through my clothes, but he still smiled at me. "It's okay. I'm here." I buried my face against him, sobbing as my whole body shook. The dogs charged again. Before they could reach us, a group of bodyguards rushed in from outside. They brought the dogs down with electric batons, then carried Dad to a waiting car and raced him to the hospital. After he received rabies shots and had his wounds treated, Dad ignored the pain, grabbed our passports, and took me straight to the airport. "Alicia, we're leaving. I can't stay here another second." As the plane lifted off, I looked out the window with only one thought. This time, Mom would never find us again.