Weight Gain Murder Chapter 05
When I returned home, a crowd had already gathered outside my home. I could hear my mom’s broken sobs coming from inside.
Someone shouted, “Shannon’s back!”
Everyone turned to look at me.
“Shannon, get inside. Your mom has been looking everywhere for you.”
“How could you be so reckless? Look how badly you scared her.”
When Mom saw me, she stared in shock, then burst into tears. “Shannon, you’re finally back! You nearly scared me half to death! If you died, I wouldn’t go on living either!
Despite her dramatic performance, it did not move me at all. “Mom, are you disappointed I’m still alive?”
Before I could finish, Jenny slapped me so hard that my face turned to the side. “Shannon, what are you saying?! If you had the nerve, you should’ve died instead of leaving a note to scare us! Do you know how worried Mom was? She almost wanted to die with you! If she wanted you dead, why would she work so hard to care for you every day?”
Jenny’s face was red with rage as she glared at me, breathing heavily.
The neighbors started talking over one another and condemning me as well.
“Shannon is nothing but a heartless ingrate, if you ask me. Her mom works so hard and makes those diet meals for her, but she still sneaks out to eat all kinds of junk food.”
“Exactly. I heard she couldn’t control herself even at the weight-loss camp. She knows she gains weight easily, but she still can’t stop eating.”
“Look at Jenny. She never sneaks food or causes trouble, and she lost weight so quickly.”
“Linda has had such a hard life. Her husband died young from obesity, and now, Shannon does nothing but cause trouble. She has to help Shannon use the bathroom, bathe, and dress every day. Poor thing. Honestly, Shannon’s death would’ve made her life easier. Why did she come back?”
Mom curled up in the corner of the couch, tears rolling down her face as she looked deeply hurt.
I stepped toward her. “Mom, how long have I been gone since I left home?”
She froze. Then, she looked down and checked her phone. “Five hours.”
“What did you do during those five hours?” I asked.
She lowered her head. Her voice wavered. “I was looking for you, of course!”
Jenny stepped between us, her face filled with anger and irritation. “Shannon, what are you trying to say?”
I turned to the neighbors who were gathered at the door. “What’s the first thing you would do if your child went missing?”
They paused, then answered over one another.
“Call them, of course!”
“Contact their friends and coworkers!”
“Call the police! That’s right! We have to call the cops!”
1 gave a scornful smile and pulled my phone from my bag. Then, I held it up. “I was gone for five hours, and Mom never called me once. Don’t you find that funny?”
As the neighbors murmured, I walked toward her. “How do you explain that, Mom? If you were looking for me, why didn’t you call? Not even once?!”
Her face instantly turned from red to pale.
Jenny stayed calm. She stepped forward and jabbed her finger at my face. “Who the hell would have thought you’d take your phone when you went off to die? Mom panicked when she saw your note. How was she supposed to remember to call?!”
I sneered internally. A great point, indeed!
I then asked, “Fine. Even if you didn’t call me, you called the police, right?”
Mom’s eyes narrowed, but she said nothing.
By now, the neighbors realized something was wrong, too.
“Linda, don’t tell me you never called the police.”
“What were you doing for those five hours?”
“Shannon was missing, and you weren’t worried? Or were you hoping she would die, just like she said?!”
Cornered by their questions, Mom lashed out at them. “This is my family’s business, and it has nothing to do with any of you! Get out!”
