PART 2 — What Was Under the Blanket
Brenda took another step toward the bed.
“Move aside, Marcus.”
“No.”
His mother stared at him.
“You’re really going to defend her without even knowing what she’s hiding?”
Marcus looked at Clara.
She was trembling.
Not angry.
Not embarrassed.
Terrified.
That was when something inside him finally shifted.
He turned toward his mother.
“Mom, go home.”
Brenda’s expression hardened.
“I am trying to protect you.”
“And I’m telling you to leave.”
For a moment, nobody moved.
Then Brenda pointed at the blanket.
“If you don’t look under there now, you’ll regret it.”
Clara suddenly began crying.
“Please.”
Marcus sat beside her.
“Clara, look at me.”
She slowly turned her face toward him.
“I don’t care what my mother thinks. I don’t care what she says. I just need you to tell me what you’re afraid of.”
Clara’s lips trembled.
“I was going to tell you.”
“When?”
“After the baby was born.”
“Why?”
She looked toward Brenda.
And then she whispered:
“Because I was afraid you’d believe her.”
Marcus’s stomach dropped.
“Believe her about what?”
Clara swallowed.
“About me.”
Brenda folded her arms.
“Exactly.”
Marcus looked between them.
Then Clara finally reached for the edge of the blanket.
Her fingers shook so badly that she could barely hold it.
“Marcus…”
“What?”
“I need you to promise me you won’t scream.”
He stared at her.
“I promise.”
Clara slowly pulled the blanket down.
Marcus froze.
Her legs were covered in dark purple and yellow bruises.
Some were small.
Others were enormous.
There were marks around both ankles and several deep bruises along her thighs.
Marcus stopped breathing.
“Oh my God.”
Brenda’s face changed.
For the first time since she’d entered the apartment, she said nothing.
Marcus reached toward Clara but stopped before touching her.
“Who did this?”
Clara looked at him through tears.
“You.”
His face went completely white.
“What?”
“You did this.”
“No.”
“I know you don’t remember.”
Marcus shook his head violently.
“I would never hurt you.”
“I know.”
“Then how—?”
Clara looked toward Brenda.
“Your mother did.”
Silence filled the room.
Brenda immediately stepped backward.
“That is a lie.”
Clara flinched at the sound of her voice.
Marcus stood.
“Mom.”
“I never touched her.”
“You just said—”
“I said she was hiding something!”
Marcus stared at the bruises again.
Then he noticed something he’d never noticed before.
Several of the marks were perfectly circular.
Almost like fingers.
His voice became quiet.
“How did this happen?”
Clara looked down.
“Every time you went to work.”
PART 3 — The Truth Clara Had Been Hiding
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