Chapter 17

Freya

I poked the steak, not feeling hungry.

"You've seemed so distant ever since you've returned from school," grand aunt Zira said as she studied me from across the table.

"I'm okay," I said.

"I'm going upstairs to do my homework," I told her, not having the appetite to eat anything.

She nodded.

Again, I lied; I never got any homework. I just felt the need to be alone.

I closed the door of my room and went to sit beside the window, leering into the forest.

I didn't understand why he was so mad at me when I had done nothing wrong.

Hot tears formed in my eyes, rolling down my cheeks, remembering that for many years my mom had wrongly blamed me for Dad leaving her.

What if he, too, mistakenly vented his anger out on me as well?

I feel as if I was born with a curse—bad luck for taking someone else's blame. I was starting to believe it.

I heard a knock on the door.

"I'm coming." I quickly wiped away my tears.

I opened the door.

"Your grand aunt and I are going to a friend's