Chapter 3
Chapter 3
Three years of middle school, and she got quieter. Stayed in the dorms. Avoided coming home.
I didn’t mind. Hell, I preferred it. The longer she stayed away, the better.
Once a month, I’d drop off money and clothes. And I’d cut her hair.
Jenna crushed it. Got into the best high school in the region. Even won a state scholarship.
Everyone in three counties knew her name.
One evening, I tried talking to her.
But seeing how silent and hard she’d gotten, I realized–that little girl who used to follow me everywhere was gone.
Let her resent me. That was fine.
At least it made her want to stay far away. From me. From this place.
Once high school started, she came home even less. First, she didn’t want to. Then I wouldn’t let her.
Out here, a smart girl with a future was prey. Everyone wanted a piece.
I just didn’t think my own son would be first in line.
He wasn’t sharp like Jenna. I could’ve whipped him raw–still wouldn’t stay in school.
All he wanted was to get out, start some business, make quick money.
So I sold what livestock we had left. Gave him cash to get started.
Jenna’s junior year, he came back. Said he missed home. Wanted to settle down and get married.
We didn’t have money for a wedding.
We’d have to wait till fall when we could sell more cattle.
That’s when they started showing up again. Men from neighboring farms, offering bigger dowries, cash up front. They wanted Jenna. Said she was educated, accomplished–her son would be something special.
This time, my husband didn’t just think about it. My son went quiet too.
Then he snapped.
“You’ve always put her first! She’s been in school forever–when’s it enough? I’ve been more than fair to her!”
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So You Wanted Me Gone? The Comedy Show from My Ghost Perch Is Savage!
6.1%
Chapter 3
“Ma, in another year nobody’s gonna marry me. These guys have money, Good families. She’d be fine. We’re not selling her to some deadbeat!”
I slapped him. Hard. My head pounded.
“Shut your mouth! What the hell does she owe you? Why should she throw away her life for yours? Nobody touches Jenna. Nobody!”
That night I lay in the field staring at the stars. Cried till I started laughing.
My son had turned into his father. My daughter couldn’t turn into me.
If my mother were alive, she’d have fought the same way. Protected her daughter with everything she had.
Jenna’s only job was to study. She didn’t need to carry anyone else’s weight.
I suddenly needed to see her. Badly.
When I got to her school, I saw her outside a bookstore with some boy.
I set my bags down. Rented a room two blocks from campus.
Pulled her out of the dorms. Made her live with me.
Diane was our neighbor in the building. She’d been through similar hell. We got each other.
When Jenna’s grades started slipping, I told her to end things with that boy.
“Why?! Why do you always get to control everything? Why do you act like you’re God?!”
“Do you even know what they call me? Dyke. Charity case. Because of this hair you keep chopping off!”
“Mom, you won. You totally won. No girls will talk to me. I can’t even look at myself. All I do is study, study, study.”
“He was the only one who didn’t look at me like I was some kind of freak. He said I was pretty. He’d walk me places. He actually gave a damn-”
My chest locked up. I couldn’t breathe.
My Jenna. My girl had been suffering so much.
But I still didn’t regret it.
Jenna was a good kid. I’d always known that.
So I stood on the window ledge. Told her I’d jump if she didn’t end it.
She caved.
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So You Wanted Me Gone? The Comedy Show from My Ghost Perch Is Savage!
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Chapter 3
“Jenna, once you’re in college, I’ll leave you alone. I swear.”
She went even quieter after that. Came home, studied, barely looked at me.
I knew.
The harder I pushed her away, the farther she could run.
I set up a food cart near the apartment complex. Big portions, cheap prices. Made decent money.
Half went to Jenna’s tuition fund. Half to my son’s wedding savings.
I had Diane bring Jenna food, clothes, little things. Take her out for coffee sometimes. Told Jenna it was from money she’d earned tutoring.
Diane didn’t get it. Thought I was torturing my own kid for no reason.
“Diane, Jenna only gets one shot at this. I don’t know if she’ll get another.”
“I just want to see her walk into that testing room and take control of her own life.”
But I never got to.
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Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
