The Ants

The Bennett family left after the argument, but Noah panicked.

He pushed me toward the door.

“Go after them. Tell them you agree.”

I did not move.

Noah dropped to his knees.

“Maya, please.”

His forehead struck the floor.

Once.

Twice.

Each sound hit somewhere old and bruised inside me.

Hannah leaned against the wall, amused.

“I told you,” she said. “Your sister listens to you best.”

I looked at Noah kneeling at my feet.

This was my brother.

My only family.

The boy who knit red yarn with swollen fingers.

The man who now wanted to trade me for the illusion of a faithful wife.

“All right,” I said.

Noah lifted his head, hope flooding his face.

“I’ll go.”

Outside, the evening air was damp.

I found Danny squatting near a wall, watching ants.

A long black line of them dragged crumbs toward a crack.

Danny suddenly pressed his thumb down.

Several ants died.

The line scattered.

Then, slowly, the survivors formed another path.

I watched them rebuild.

Even ants knew how to keep moving.

Why was I still standing inside someone else’s cage?

Danny noticed me.

He rushed forward with open arms.

“Wife!”

I sidestepped.

His face changed.

His fist came up.

“Dad said wives listen after being hit.”

I went cold.

“Did your dad tell you wives also run away if you hit them?”

He stopped.

“And take your favorite toys?”

His eyes widened.

“No. Not my Ultraman.”

“I won’t take it,” I said gently. “Show me your house. I’ll talk to your parents about marrying sooner. Then I’ll buy you more toys.”

Danny brightened immediately.

He pointed the way.

The Bennett house was low and old.

Carl lay in a rocking chair in the courtyard. His wife knelt beside him, massaging his legs.

“Are we really going through with this?” Mrs. Bennett asked. “Will the Song family give us the girl?”

Carl kicked her lightly.

“Of course. I promised Noah I’d help watch Hannah, keep her from running around with men. He worships that woman. He’ll hand his sister over.”

Mrs. Bennett sighed.

“But we promised Hannah fifty thousand.”

“After the wedding, we’ll find a reason to take it back.”

“And watching Hannah?”

Carl snorted.

“Noah can’t control his own wife. Why should I?”

I stood outside the wall, listening.

So that was the truth.

Hannah wanted money.

Noah wanted Carl to help cage Hannah.

The Bennetts planned to cheat them both.

I should have stormed in.

I should have screamed.

I should have dragged Noah here and forced him to listen.

But Noah had heard truth before.

Truth broke against his delusion like rain against stone.

No.

This time, he would not be told.

He would watch.