The inayofuata morning
Caroline arrived in the kitchen, where the breakfast meza, jedwali was set. Liz was making some coffee and it seemed as if she tried to avoid looking at her daughter.
“Mom?” Caroline said, sensing something was wrong. Liz didn’t react, but pretended to be busy. “Mom, what’s going on?”
“You want some coffee?” Liz asked, avoiding the question. Caroline got up and walked towards her mother. “Mom, what’s wrong? Why are wewe uigizaji like this?”
Liz turned around and leaned against the sink. “I’ve been having flashes”
“Flashes of what?” Caroline asked.
“Of things I thought I forgot” Liz said. “Things I suppressed, forced myself to forget”
“Or someone else made you” Caroline said. She remembered the talk with Tyler. “What about your mother?” Tyler asked. “Doesn’t she wonder where wewe are?”
“I guess she’s compelled” Caroline alisema soft.
“You were never with your father, were you?” Liz asked trembling. Caroline shook her head and broke down. Liz held her in her arms and caressed her hair as they both cried. “I should’ve known. I should’ve made sure. I should’ve called your dad”
“Mom, no, it’s not your fault. wewe were being compelled” Caroline said. Liz let go. “Stefan came to the house and I didn’t want him to come in, but he was already invited in. And when he came in he compelled me to let Amber in. I recognized her from the WANTED poster. She compelled me to think wewe were with your dad and that wewe would come back kwa the end of the summer”
“She’s dead, mom” Caroline said. “She can’t hurt wewe anymore”