Chapter 3Broken Frequencies: The Price of Silence

My mom worked long hours at a local farmers' market, struggling to make ends meet.

My father had long since vanished to "find work" out of state, leaving us with nothing.

Mrs. Parker, knowing our situation, insisted I come over after school to do homework with Liam.

She was a stay-at-home mom who doted on him.

Their house was bright, modern, and smelled like vanilla candles.

Liam and I would sit at the coffee table in the living room.

Mrs. Parker would bring out snacks.

"Clara, Liam, take a break. Have some fruit."

"Thank you, Mrs. Parker."

Liam would drop his pen, grab a banana, and follow his mother into the kitchen.

"Mom, stop bringing her here. She’s weird. I’m sick of looking at her."

My hand froze halfway to a bowl of grapes.

I pulled back, my heart sinking.

The kitchen door swung shut.

Their voices muffled, but the sting remained.

When Liam came back out, his face was set in a scowl. I kept my head down, pretending to be absorbed in my math problems.

He kicked my chair, his voice a low hiss.

"Don't come back tomorrow. Hear me?"

Mrs. Parker stepped out, her voice stern. "Liam Parker! Keep your mouth shut."

I just kept writing, my face burning with shame.

Every night at 11 PM, my mom would pick me up after the market closed.

Liam’s father worked overseas, only coming home once or twice a year.

"I’m sorry for the trouble," my mom would say, handing Mrs. Parker a bag of fresh produce. "These tomatoes just came in today."

"You don't have to do that," Mrs. Parker would protest.

She was the kindest person I had ever met, second only to my mother.

"Clara had dinner with us already," Mrs. Parker would smile, patting my head. "See you tomorrow, sweetie. I’m making beef stew."