A week ago, my mom went on vacation with my stepdad, Bob, leaving me home alone. They returned while I was asleep, having waited for them in the living room for two days.

I awoke to mom carrying me to my bedroom, her soft humming drowning out Bob's constant shouting. When I asked her to stay with me, she kissed me, promising to do so.

Over the next few days, we played together, and in the evenings, I listened to her bedtime stories until I fell asleep in her warm embrace.

Bob, however, never set foot in my room, and whenever mom did, he'd scold her for it, always bringing her to tears.

Today, I awoke to the mess that is my bed. Mom would usually make it for me first thing after she'd kiss me good morning, but she's not here now. Instead, her voice is coming from outside the ajar door.

I get up and make my way into the hallway. The sound of her cries grows louder as I reach the stairs. I find her sitting in the living room, with Bob standing over her, holding gloves and masks, and breathing down her neck.

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"We've already cleaned the house," he says, "so let's get this over with."

"One more day," says mom, her voice trembling with sobs. "Please... my sweet Jane."

Bob gazes down at her for a long moment.

"No, not if you want me around anymore," he says. "So, choose. Now."

Soon after, mom takes a deep, shaky breath and starts humming. I find myself in the middle of the staircase when she turns toward me afterward, red and teary-eyed.

And when I see Bob put on his mask, I quickly retreat to my room, with mom's weeping growing louder behind me.

I head to my bed to tidy it up a bit when Bob enters my room. I reach it before him and lie on it first, with him struggling to control his breathing under his mask. He then kneels before me and extends a gloved hand. I try to pull away, but he clasps it firmly.

"Jane," he says, "know that we’ve always loved you, no matter what.”

He grasps the back of my neck.

"But your mom now spends all her time with you," he adds. "She can't do that anymore."

Right behind him, mom appears, masked and gloved, and humming once again. Bob slides his arm beneath my knees, and I feel his warmth for the first time in days once he cradles me in his arms, his chest quivering, as he turns toward mom and utters, "Do it."

Mom takes off her mask and places a gentle kiss on my forehead.

"I'm so sorry for leaving you alone, Jane," she says, tears streaming down her face. "But I can't keep my promise anymore. I can't keep your corpse here with me."

As I look up at them, my mind starts to slip, and I close my eyes.