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I sliced it,placed it in front of her,then spread the empty box’s corrugated paper liner on the floor.
With a thud,I knelt on it.
Tears in my eyes,voice choking,I said,“Mom,what did I do wrong?Is wanting something else on my birthday a crime?”
“When I was little,every mistake meant you’d buy a cheesecake.You’d eat it,and I’d kneel on the box’s foil liner until my knees bled.”
“What did I do wrong now?”
My shocking revelation stunned the live chat.
“OMG,my heart aches for this kid.That’s abuse,right?She kneels like it’s routine.”
“Detachment parenting is one thing,but this is too far.”
“Don’t stir drama!I support this mom.Kids shouldn’t be coddled.First-time moms don’t owe them everything!”
My mom panicked.
Her trendy mom image teetered on the edge of being labeled an abuser.
To deflect,she crouched,patting my head in a fake warm manner.“Sweetie,why lie?I’ve told you not to make things up!”
She winked at the camera.“Kids exaggerate,don’t mind her!”
She painted me as a chronic liar to discredit me.
But I was reborn,I wasn’t the docile girl from before.
I slapped my own face hard.
“Mom,I’m sorry for upsetting you.”
Another slap.
“Mom,I love veggies and tofu.I’ll eat whatever you make and never complain.”
A third slap.
“Mom,please don’t make me kneel on the cardboard.My knees hurt so much.”
My face flushed crimson.
The slaps stung;but compared to my past-life pain,they were nothing.
My mom freaked.“Emily Harper,what are you doing?”
I shoved her away,stepping back.“Mom,I’m sorry,don’t hit me!I’ll help with chores!You said no spoiling kids,but pamper yourself—I remember!”
“Parents,would you want your kid to be like this?”
“This is terrifying.Is this parenting worth praising?”
“This family’s suffocating.What an i.”
The tide turned against her.She frantically tried to end the live stream.
Offline,her eyes grew wary.
I’d never acted like this before.
She stared,stepping closer.“Emily,are you hiding something?”
I shook my head like a toy rattle.“Mom,how could I hide anything?”
She pinched my thigh hard.“You’d better not play any tricks,or you’re done!”
I nodded.“Don’t worry,Mom.I’ll be good.”
She had no idea this was just the beginning.
I wasn’t done.
Those who are reborn fear nothing.
