Page 42 of Marek

“No.”

With that final statement, he unties me and then leaves the tent.

What the hell?

Confusion washes over me as I watch him leave.

What kind of game is this?

Because I don’t like playing it.

“IT’S MY CHOICE,” Isay down the phone, sitting in Marek’s RV as we wait for the club members to arrive.

I’ve finally gotten the courage to call my mother, and of course, Carter has already told her what my plans are so she’s less than thrilled. She has told me she will take my trust fund, and everything else away from me, if I don’t return and leave this place. I begged her to come and watch a show, to give it a chance, but she won’t budge.

She refuses to even give me a chance.

“I have put time and money into your career, Ellie. You could go to an elite school, make something of yourself, and instead you’ve run off with the circus. We all thought you had been kidnapped. You have no idea what you’ve put your father and I through.”

Oh, I have an idea alright.

I read the news stories and watched their pleading act.

She loves the fame.

“I’m sorry for that,” I say carefully. “But I knew you would never understand. Please, just come and watch the show, if you see it, you’ll understand how incredible this chance is.”

“What sort of career will you get from that? Living on the road, travelling like an animal. You could go to the best school, travel the world...”

“And dance the way you all want me to. I get to do it my way here, and it is a career, this will go all over the world, just you wait and see.”

“You’re delusional. If you don’t return home tomorrow, I will cut you off. I mean it, Ellie Mae, I’m not going to help you throw your career down the toilet.”

I exhale, but I can’t deny that her words hurt.

“I’m your daughter,” I say, my voice a little shaky.

“I have put my entire world into your career, don’t throw that at me.”

No, she has guided me exactly where she wanted me to go. Anytime I tried to do something different, she would come down on me so hard I would have no choice but to conform. She doesn’t want what’s best for me, she wants what’s best for her.

“And poor Carter,” she goes on, “he’s heartbroken.”

“I never meant to hurt him, but it wasn’t fair for me to marry him when I didn’t really love him.”

“He can give you an incredible life!”

Shaking my head, I know I’m wasting my time trying to get through to her. She’ll never understand.

“I’m sorry, mom. This is my choice.”

I don’t let her say another word, I hang up the phone just as a lone tear slides out and rolls down my cheek. Not because I expected anything else, but because I’m sad that I don’t have a family who supports me for me. If I follow her rules, I will always have her blessing, but when I do something different, she is more than willing to cut me off to get her own way.

That’s not love.

It’s control.

“Give it time.”

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