7
Ten years ago, your pops pulled a wicked switcharoo with our art portfolios. He swapped my masterpieces with yours.
"Isabel, how's it feel to swipe someone's spot in college? Rich folks can swap paintings like Pokémon cards, huh?"
"You nicked my artworks to sneak into college back then, and since, you've been ripping my masterpieces to snag awards, faking the whole 'talented artist' gig."
"With both parents still kickin', cash for days, and a fancy rich family wedding on the horizon, you've had a blast, haven't you?"
And then, with a dramatic flair, I grabbed that bottle of red vino and let it rain down on them. 🍷
I groaned, "But Isabel, my life's been an epic trainwreck."
"These years, I've been wandering in a fog, worse than six feet under."
I gave Isabella's old man, Steven Andrews, a swift kick. "Uncle Steven, you get me, right?"
But as Steven Andrews saw the sheer madness in my eyes, he freaked out, like, for real.
He reached out, trembling like a leaf, trying to grab my pants.
He choked out, "Autumn, please forgive me. I've got just one daughter. She knew her art game was weak, and she couldn't ace that art school. She cried for nights on end. I couldn't bear to see her so crushed, so I slipped some cash to the art assistant."
"Autumn, try and feel a dad's heart, will ya?"
I went silent for a while, then out of nowhere, I dropped this bomb, "What about my old man?"
"My dad was desperate back then. The day he stumbled upon your crib, he overheard you talking about that artwork swap with the art assistant. He was gonna spill the beans, but you stopped him. You two were scrappin' by the door, and my dad got pushed down that slope by you! You pushed him on purpose when you spotted that car, didn't ya?"
"Mr. Andrews, you're Isabella's pops, but was my dad not my pops?"
That's when I tossed that trusty lighter into the mix.
The flames roared, lighting up the night like a monster party.
Their screams, their pleas, it was all white noise to me.
In truth, this world's emotions, its ups and downs, I couldn't give a damn.
They were furious, terrified, but I felt lighter than air, happier than a kid in a candy store.
'Cause I'd been waiting for this day, for way too damn long.
