Mannie’s POV
We were almost free.
Just a few more steps and we’d be out of that suffocating courtyard, away from their judgmental eyes, their whispers, and Sandra’s venom.
But of course, she couldn’t let us go without one more stab.
“Leaving already? The shame finally got to you?” Sandra sneered, folding her arms.
I didn’t respond.
“How can you leave without giving the celebrant her birthday gift?” she added, loud enough for the people nearby to hear. “At least that is the little thing you can do.”
My mother leaned toward me and whispered, “We would give our gifts and leave.”
I nodded.
I was calm on the outside but I was literally boiling on the inside.
But before I could reach into the tote bag where I kept the small wrapped gift Mama had picked out, a small voice rang clear fro
