“Sis, you gotta take responsibility! We did
what you said.”
Uncle Mike spoke first, and Uncle Mark
followed.
“Yeah, Riley’s just our niece, not our
daughter. We had no right to discipline her.
You asked us to do it.”
Uncle Joe nodded quickly.
“That’s right, sis. Don’t ruin our reputations
and jobs.”
Mom was incredulous. She pointed at them,
shocked.
“You guys told us to be tough, not to be soft
on Riley. Now that something’s happened,
you’re all washing your hands of it!”
The uncles‘ faces froze.
“Sis, what do you mean? We’re your brothers;
did we do something wrong by helping you?
Are you too old to know right from wrong?”
“Yeah, don’t act like you don’t know. You’re
always beating and yelling at Riley, calling her
worthless! She was bullied, and you ignored
it, making her apologize to the bullies! It’s no
wonder she had problems!”
“I think you’re the one with mental problems, sis. Riley was depressed, and you still forced
her to study! You didn’t care about her
feelings; is that how you raise a child?”
The uncles shifted the blame to Mom.
Dad stared at Mom, processing their words. “Riley was really bullied?’
Uncle Mike sneered.
“You’re a terrible father.”
“Your daughter was bullied, and you didn’t
help her, you just sided with my sister!” “Riley’s death is at least half your fault! Your
inaction killed her!”
Dad’s chest tightened with a sharp pain.
Mom’s eyes were red; she couldn’t believe
her brothers would betray her. She stood up
and pointed at them.
“I trusted you! You said we shouldn’t spoil
her, to be strict! I did exactly what you said!”
her, to be strict! I did exactly what you said!” “Now you’re twisting things! Don’t you have
any conscience?!”
“Officer, they tied up my daughter! Arrest
them!”
The uncles‘ faces changed. They glared.
The police looked at them.
“You’re all responsible! You can’t escape the consequences!”
The uncles jumped up, one grabbing Mom’s
hair, another choking her, the last pulling her
arm.
“It’s all your fault! It’s your family problem,
why involve us?!”
“You’re a sister who would even harm her
own brothers! How could you be so awful?”
“Are you trying to drive our parents to the
grave? Mom’s still recovering, and you want
us all in jail?!”
The police separated them and issued a
warning.
Mom sobbed uncontrollably. Was she crying
over the broken relationship or Riley’s death?
It didn’t matter anymore.
Since childhood, I’d always been met with
Mom’s cold stares.
I was short, average in school, and timid. I
was unremarkable.
Teachers ignored me; I didn’t have many
friends.
I finally got into college, only to be bullied.
The first time I was bullied, I endured it.
Just like when Mom called me worthless; I
was used to it.
They wanted me to cheat for them. When I
refused, they locked me in the bathroom.
“You know about our cheating plan, and you
want to back out?”
“I’m telling you, you’re participating, whether
vou like it or not. On the final exam day
you like it or not. On the final exam day,
pretend to have a stomach ache and go to
the bathroom to help us cheat!”
“If you don’t, we’ll report you for cheating!
We’ll see who the school believes!”
“Take off your clothes. We’re taking pictures.
Then you’ll listen.”
I fought back, but they beat me.
They broke my ribs and took nude photos.
I thought my family would protect me, but it
was a fantasy.
My parents were allowed to see my body. In
the hospital morgue, it was so cold.
When Mom saw my dead body, she knelt and
began banging her head on the floor.
“Riley, Mommy’s sorry. Come back, okay?”
Her voice was hoarse, like she’d been crying
for hours.
“I won’t force you to go to school anymore.
I’ll make your favorite ribs. Just come back.
Don’t die, please…”
“”
Seeing no response, she held my cold hand,
crying.
“Riley, Mommy loves you. I just used the
wrong methods.”
“I’m a first–time mom. I didn’t know…”
“You had a high fever when you were ten; I
took care of you for two days and nights
