"Jessie Rivers, you think you're hot stuff now, huh? Get over here and help your mom!"

"What, you need an invitation?" Karen snapped, clearly exhausted from moving and irritated by my calm demeanor.

I chucked the apple core in the trash and flashed her a bright, innocent smile.

"Oh, Mom, look at me, just standing around. How could I have been so thoughtless not to help you move stuff?"

"At least you've got some sense. Now grab this box and get moving, my arms are killing me."

Karen tried to pass the heavy load to me.

I dodged swiftly, stepping aside at the doorway and nudging the box back into her hands.

She nearly toppled over.

I couldn't suppress a snicker.

"Mom, I meant I shouldn't be standing here blocking your way. That was my bad."

"I ought to be sitting on that couch, gaming like Johnny!" I glanced over at Johnny lounging on the couch.

Looks like Mom's perfect little world isn't so cozy after all.

Karen, seething, followed my gaze.

Johnny, totally absorbed in his game, hadn't noticed any of the fuss.

"Johnny! What are you doing? Get over here and help with the boxes!"

I'd say, the facade of familial bliss was crumbling.

It was clear that someone else had been supporting it and holding it whole for them before.

Without someone else to carry the burden, Karen's maternal façade wasn't holding up.

"Karen, shut the hell up! Can't you see I'm gaming here?" Johnny retorted without missing a beat.

Frustrated, Karen turned to find another target for her ire—me.

Too bad, I was already grabbing my backpack and heading out to the library. All she caught was my back as I left.

"Jessie, you little bitch, you...!"

"Keep it down, lady, there are kids trying to sleep!" A neighbor intervened from across the hall.

Embarrassed, Karen fell silent.

She was just another bully, tough only toward me