When Maggret left that night, everything in the house shifted from bad to worse. The days dragged on in unbearable silence—she rarely showed up with food, drinks, or even a hint of company. The dull house became suffocating, and her absence left me more isolated than ever. She didn’t even take me to town like she promised. I couldn't stand it any longer. I grabbed my backpack, stuffed with a few belongings, and stormed out.
I needed to see Cathy. I needed answers. I had to know what was going on.
I made up my mind. No more waiting. No more being trapped in that house. I was heading to school.
But the second I stepped beyond the house, something hit me—a powerful force that slammed me back into the yard with brutal force. “Damn!” I groaned, clutching my abdomen as the pain surged through
