Cleo once told me he wanted to try sailing too . He saw it in the cartoon and said he wanted to fly over the sea . Said he would wear his " pirate socks . " a sickly kid . Said he'd get blown off the rope . But now Jude gets to go Torren laughed and said no . Said it was too risky for a sickly kid . S parasailing . And Cleo doesn't even get a birthday . I stayed there until I heard the gate beep . Then the door opened . Footsteps . The help led them in like royalty . Torren's parents . " I stood near the hallway as they entered . They didn't smile . His mother barely glanced at me before wrinkling her nose . " Where's your frail little boy ? " she asked . " Dead or still breathing ? " My lips parted . But before I could answer , his father spoke over me . " Never mind that . How's Jude ? We heard Ruby might be expecting again . Is it true ? " I stood there . Still . Quiet . Trying not to crack . !! " She brings light into Torren's life , " his mother went on . " She doesn't make scenes . Always so composed . So pleasant . Unlike some women . " I just lowered my gaze.8 Then his father said , " Go help the chef , But first serve us tea . And tell Torren we expect him next week for our anniversary . You can come too . Bring your sick child if you want . " My fingers curled into my skirt . But I nodded . " Of course . " I I went to the kitchen . Told the chef they wanted jasmine . Set the tray myself and brought it out like I had no pride left to lose . My smile was steady . Polished Porcelain … but Inside , I was screaming . I moved to set the cups on the table . My hand slipped . One of them shattered against the floor . The porcelain splintered like it had been waiting.E His mother gasped . Then glared . " You've always been clumsy ! " she said sharply . " God help you , girl . You still don't know how to carry tea ? " I looked at the broken shards , then straightened up . " Forgive me , " I said . Not for the cup . Not even for now . I was apologizing for who I used to be . The girl who begged them to love her . The one who thought she had to earn a place at their table . That girl is dead now , just like my son . -8 They didn't stay to eat . ) Torren's parents both stood up with looks of quiet disgust , like the tea had insulted them personally . His mother placed her cup down with a little clink . Her face twisted . " This is bitter , she muttered under her breath . " Even something as simple as tea .. you can't get right . Bitter ! Like your life ." She adjusted her gloves at the door . Smooth , slow movements . Her voice was cold and careful when she spoke again . !! " I'll be sure to tell Torren how clumsy you've become . You're falling apart , dear . Maybe this time , he'll finally see it and leave for good . I've told him for years . You don't belong in our life . You were never worth the trouble . " I just looked at her . I didn't nod , I didn't speak . I just stood there , holding the edge of the table with my fingers curled under . Like if I held on tight enough , maybe the words wouldn't cut so deep . She turned without waiting for a reply . No thank you . No goodbye . The front door opened . Closed . A few seconds later , the soft screech of tires pulled down the driveway . Then nothing . Just the quiet again . That same silence that lived in every room of this glass house.ll I took a breath then I turned to the maid . " You don't have to prepare lunch , I said quietly . They're gone ." She nodded . I went upstairs . Slow . One step at a time . My legs were heavy , like my body wasn't mine anymore . !! Halfway up , I heard them . Whispers . Soft and quick . Coming from the kitchen downstairs . Áke For Dead , Hom He DeMeMy 100 % 831 PM P Whispers . Soft and quick . Coming from the kitchen downstairs . " She didn't even cry when they left , one said . " I think that little boy … Cleo , I think he's dead . I saw the um in her room . " " Too bad . Mr. Torren only talks about Jude now . " " He brings Ruby flowers . Hasn't even visited Cleo's grave . I doubt he knows . " " Even if he does , he doesn't care . Cleo was different . Gentle . Kind . He never stood a chance . " " She used to be the lady of the house . Now look at her . Just surviving . " 1 kept walking.E I didn't flinch . I didn't call out their names or tell them to shut up . I didn't defend myself . Maybe they weren't even wrong . I reached my room and closed the door behind me . Then my phone started ringing . Torren's name lit up the screen . It rang once . Twice . I stared at it until it stopped . He didn't leave a voicemail . No message . I stood there for a while , letting the silence come back . Then I changed clothes . I wore the soft blue dress Cleo liked . The one with little white clouds . He used to say it looked like the sky . Said it made me look like the kind of mom in storybooks . The safe kind . The happy kind I picked up his urn . held it in both arms like I was carrying him again . It was warm from the sunlight slipping through the curtains .. I left the house without telling anyone . I went to Ocean Park . It was where Cleo always wanted to go for his birthday . He used to beg me every year . Just once , Mama . I wanna see the dolphins . I'll be good , I promise . " But Torren said no . Always no . Said the sun would be too harsh . Said Cleo would catch something from the crowd . Said it was too risky for a frail kid . So we never went . Until now.8 I bought one ticket . But I paid for two seats . One for me . One for him . We watched the dolphin show together . I lit a candle by the railing . Let the flame dance against the wind , even though it almost blew out a few times . I talked to him . I told him how proud I was . Told him how much I missed him . I even laughed a little . Just once . The sound startled me . The people around probably thought I was crazy . Sitting there whispering to a small pink umn like it could talk back . I didn't care . % This day wasn't for them … It was for Cleo . !! I looked up at the sky . Watched the sun flicker through the clouds . " Happy birthday , baby , I said , my voice barely holding together . The tears came , but I wiped them away . !! I didn't want to cry too much . Not today because this day was still his . All his .