Home Entertainment Game Technology Advertisement Part 2: For eight years, my parents made me leave the house every time my brother brought his fiance over; Mom said, “She comes from a good family, don’t embarrass us”; Dad added, “Just disappear for the weekend”; I did; then one weekend, I never came back; it took them four years to find out where I went.

“No.”

“Then why did you let them send me away?”

“I was weak.”

“That is not an explanation.”

He thought.

Then gave me one I finally believed.

“Because every time you disappeared, my life got easier.”

Silence.

There.

No grand motive.

No hatred.

Convenience.

When I left, nobody asked questions.

Avery stayed happy.

Her parents trusted him.

Dad's fraud stayed hidden.

Mom stayed calm.

Mitch's career advanced.

I was the cost nobody had to watch paying.

He whispered:

“I loved you.”

I looked at him.

“Maybe.”

He flinched.

“But you benefited from me being erased.”

“Yes.”

Both.

I stood.

Mitch said:

“Stacey.”

I turned.

“I am sorry.”

I believed he was.

It changed nothing that day.

Then his attorney spoke for the first time.

“Mitch has agreed to cooperate fully.”

I looked at him.

“Why?”

Mitch answered.

“Because Avery left me.”

Not good enough.

He saw my expression.

Then corrected: