They Erased Me, So I Rewrote My Life Chapter 27

They Erased Me, So I Rewrote My Life Chapter 27

Father’s expression froze.

Mother looked as if I had slapped her.

“How can you say that?” Real anger finally colored Father’s voice. “How can you be so cold?”

“Eliza!”

Leo and his uncle’s voices called from behind me.

They each held a large bouquet of sunflowers and were walking over quickly.

“Congratulations, sweetheart.” Uncle Manuel shoved the flowers into my arms, then seemed to notice my parents and politely extended a hand. “Hello. I’m Leo’s uncle.”

“We’re Eliza’s parents,” Father said stiffly, shaking his hand.

“Oh.” Uncle Manuel’s smile faded slightly, though his tone stayed friendly. “I thought this kid had been getting through everything on her own. In the past two years, at parent meetings or school events, I never once saw either of you.”

The air grew heavy.

“We had very important matters—” Mother tried to explain.

“They must have been.” Uncle Manuel shrugged and smoothly guided me toward him and Leo. “Anyway, Eliza has us now. Come on, kid. We’re going to celebrate.”

I left with them and didn’t look back.

Behind me, Mother finally broke down sobbing.

Inside, my heart was quiet.