We Share the Same Last Name(7)

13

Yelena raised her hand and slapped my face with all her might. I looked at her in astonishment, and tears rolled down my cheeks.

My face was burning with pain, and my head was buzzing. I couldn't help but stumble slightly. I really didn't expect Yelena to hit me.

It was the first time in 18 years she hit me.

No matter what I did before, she never hit me.

Even if it was five years ago, when Yelena divorced my father, and I ran away from home in anger. When she came to the police station in the neighboring city to pick me up three days later, she was so exasperated that she couldn't help crying. I had prepared myself to be punished, but she asked me if I was hungry.

Although the current Yelena was not so gentle, she was reluctant to hit me.

"Mom." I grabbed her sleeve weakly and said in a broken voice, "I like him."

Her eyes were red as if she was enduring great pain.

Suddenly, she slapped herself in the face and said, "I was wrong. It was my fault."

The sight scared me so m