With Love, Stepdaughter

He caught up with me at the door and grabbed my hand.

— You’ll stay here, Eva! You’ll live in this house, next to me!

— Mark, Mom loves you, you understand?! — I burst out loudly, gulping through tears. — I can’t look her in the eye, pretending everything is fine. I want her to be happy. And I have no right to stand in her way. — I wiped the corners of my eyes with my sleeve and stepped toward the exit.

— You already did that, — came a voice behind me.

When I turned around, I saw Mark pull a flash drive from his pocket and, squinting, twist it in his hand.

— If you step over the threshold, I’ll offer her a movie to watch—one where you and I play the leading roles…