"Dorian. Wake up. We're leaving in an hour."
I roll over and blink my eyes open. The mother I used to adore stands in the doorway in a crisp suit with her hair gelled back into a bun.
I narrow my eyes at her appearance. She doesn't work today. She's probably just trying to make a good impression on her new boyfriend. Jake wraps his little fingers around my left hand and squeezes. I look down at him and the hurt in his eyes is unmistakeable. I look up at my mother. "I'm not leaving him." I say defiantly. Her cobalt blues glare at me but she plasters a smile on her face. "Dorian, you can always come visit Jacob."
I know she won't ever let me see him or dad again. I know she'll do her best to keep us as far apart as she can manage. I know she hates Jake as much as she hates dad.
"Now get up and get dressed. And look presentable. If you mess this up for me..." The rest of the sentence hangs unspoken in the air.
'...You'll regret it.'
I know the power she has over me.
I know the ability she has to make me surrender. She'll use Jake against me if it means getting me to leave. She'll hurt him.
Slowly, I roll out of bed and stand in front of her. "Okay. I'll go."
I don't even put up a fight.
Jake is worth too much.
She nods her head in approval.
There's nothing more she likes than an obedient child.
Little does she know, I'm not about to be so obedient.