All Chapters of You Don’t Get Us Back, Mom: Chapter 1 - Chapter 9

Dad picked up the camera Mom gave him and opened the gallery. It was full of photos of Mom with Matthew and his daughter, Nora Hunt.I saw it clearly. The day my brother Brian Dawson died, Mom had been at an amusement park with them, riding the Ferris wheel.When Dad spiraled into depression and nearly bled out after hurting himself, Mom had been watching fireworks with them.My chest tightened, and I started crying.So she did have time. She just never gave it to Dad.Dad's whole body trembled as he pulled me into his arms, his voice rough but steady. "Alicia, your mom's dead. Right?"I nodded quickly.Something in him seemed to settle. He raised the camera and hurled it against the wall, where it shattered on impact.I knew his heart had broken the same way.That night, just before I fell asleep, I heard him on the phone."I'll take the photography position in Dalecrest. I'll be there in a week."Half-asleep, I thought of who Dad used to be: a world-renowned photographer.

The moment I hit the ground, blood spread across my knees. The pain hit so hard that my eyes filled with tears, and a cry slipped out before I could stop it.Beside me, Nora suddenly screamed, sharp and loud. "Why did you push me? Mom, it hurts!"She was on the ground as well, crying so loudly that it rang in my ears.Dad rushed over immediately and pulled me into his arms, shielding me.But Mom and Matthew ran up and started accusing me."Alicia, why did you push Nora?""I didn't!" I shouted, forcing the words past the lump in my throat.Nora pointed at me, crying harder. "She did! She pushed me on purpose!"Anger surged up so fast that it left me breathless.Dad's voice turned cold. "Check the surveillance. If you don't trust Alicia, let the security footage speak for itself."Mom didn't answer. She picked Nora up and turned away, tossing a sentence over her shoulder."Please. The footage will only make her look worse."They hurried toward the first aid station.My face

Third-person POVLauren Roberts had just pulled into the parking lot of a nearby hospital with Matthew and Nora when a breaking news alert sounded on her phone.Her heart tightened, as if something had clenched around it. A surge of unease hit so hard that she struggled to breathe.Her hands shook as she tapped the notification.[Two Dead After Rabid Dogs Released at Amusement Park]Her mind went blank as she stared at the image. Two bodies lay side by side, covered in white sheets. One arm was exposed. On the ring finger was a band she recognized.Her grip on the steering wheel slipped.She knew that ring. It was the one she had given Simon for their fifth anniversary.Back then, Alicia had just turned three. The three of them had gone to the best viewpoint in Lowridge to watch fireworks light up the sky.Why was it on a corpse?The thought hit her all at once, sharp and impossible to ignore. Before she could look closer, she saw another photo.This time, it was a delicat

"Mr. Dawson's depression required daily medication and constant hospital visits. I know of at least one incident when Mr. Dawson suffered a severe depressive episode and hurt himself. As he bled out, he called you for help, but you lied and told him you were overseas on business. Is that correct?"Lauren's pupils trembled. Her hands clenched against the table, trembling uncontrollably.She didn't know. Simon had never told her.Wait, no. He had. Alicia, too.Back then, Alicia clung to her leg every day, crying and begging her not to leave.Simon had smashed things around the house, his eyes red as he shouted, "I can't take care of Alicia like this! I'm begging you. Just come back. Please!"But all she could think about was that Matthew and Nora were waiting for her.The pain hit all at once. Lauren clutched her chest and collapsed.Victor looked down at her, his expression unchanged, his voice steady and unrelenting."A few days ago, you pushed Mr. Dawson into a lake. He can