Chapter 4

"Peyton, come to the community clinic this afternoon."

Harold's call came while I was meeting with Marcus.

He sat across from me, phone screen facing up, showing Vivian's fifth message.

"She's asking me if you brought any sharp objects to our meeting."

Marcus said this without smiling.

I replied, "Are you scared?"

"I'm just curious why she's in such a hurry."

Before I could answer, Harold called again.

"Did you hear me? Three o'clock this afternoon. Your mom will go with you."

"Go for what?"

"A psychological evaluation."

My grip on my cup tightened.

"Whose idea?"

Linda's voice came through the phone.

"My idea—what's wrong with that? You scared Vivian like that. Don't you need an evaluation?"

Harold lowered his voice. "Peyton, cooperate. Get a certificate proving you're fine, and this whole thing will blow over."

I said, "The person who started the slander should apologize. That would make it blow over too."

"You're still being stubborn?"

I said nothing.

Marcus looked up at me. "Need help?"

I shook my head.

Harold's voice became very weary.

"Peyton, don't make this hard on your mom."

That sentence worked better than any command.

I went that afternoon.

The community center wasn't large. Several elderly people sat in the hallway. Linda and Vivian were there too.

Vivian wore a face mask, only her red eyes showing.

Linda saw me and said, "Don't glare at your cousin. She had nightmares last night and didn't sleep all night."

Sandra pulled me aside. "Peyton, just answer a few questions and it'll be over."

I asked, "Why are they here?"

Linda said, "Family members have the right to provide information."

I said, "Since when is she my family?"

Vivian said softly, "Peyton, I'm just afraid you won't tell the truth."

The doctor called my name.

I went in and sat down. Just as I was about to speak, the door was pushed open again.

Linda handed a stack of papers to the doctor.

"Doctor, this is her history. We family members compiled it."

I saw the title read: Record of Peyton's Abnormal Behavior.

Item one: Suspected self-harm during college.

Item two: Prolonged low mood after failed blind dates.

Item three: Attacked Vivian at family dinner, persecution delusions.

Item four: Repeatedly harassed males, suspected paranoid personality.

I reached for it.

Linda pressed down on the papers. "This is for the doctor. Why are you grabbing?"

The doctor frowned. "Family members, please step outside."

Linda refused. "Doctor, you don't know how good she is at acting."

Vivian stood at the door, her voice trembling.

"Doctor, can I stay? If she gets agitated, I can calm her down."

I looked at her.

"You'll calm me down?"

Her eyes reddened again. "Peyton, don't be like this."

In the end, the doctor asked them all to leave.

After the door closed, he asked me, "Is this information accurate?"

I said, "It's not accurate."

"Do you have evidence?"

"I have screenshots that prove she's been messaging my blind dates with false information for a long time."

The doctor nodded. "You can file a police report or pursue civil litigation for defamation."

I'd just started to relax.

Outside the door, shouting suddenly erupted.

Linda's voice was piercingly shrill. "She pushed someone! Doctor, she pushed Vivian!"

I rushed out.

Vivian sat on the floor, her wrist scraped red in one spot, her mask fallen off, tears streaming down.

Sandra stood to the side, her face deathly pale.

When she saw me, her first words were, "Peyton, why did you come out just now?"

I froze. "I was inside the whole time."

Linda pointed at me. "You came out! You snuck out when the doctor wasn't looking, yelled at Vivian, and pushed her!"

I said, "There are cameras in the hallway."

Linda sneered. "The nurse just said this section of cameras is broken."

Vivian looked up, her voice breaking.

"Peyton, I don't blame you. You're just too scared."

People around us all turned to look.

Someone whispered, "That girl looks pretty normal. How could she do this?"

The doctor came out, his expression changed too.

"Peyton, calm down first."

I said, "I am calm."

Linda immediately jumped in. "She says she's calm every time she has an episode."

Sandra covered her mouth, tears falling.

"Peyton, I'm begging you, please stop this."

I looked at her.

"Mom, you think I pushed her too?"

She didn't answer.

Silence was the answer.

I suddenly remembered many years ago, when my wrist was cut by the fruit knife. I was trembling in pain, and Vivian stood at the kitchen door crying.

Linda rushed in and hugged her.

"Don't be scared, don't be scared. Peyton didn't mean to frighten you."

Back then my hand was covered in blood.

No one asked if I was hurt first.

Now it was the same.

Vivian steadied herself against the wall and stood up. Ethan had somehow arrived and draped his coat over her shoulders.

When he saw me, his eyes were full of disgust.

"Peyton, you really make me sick."

I said quietly, "I didn't push her."

"The cameras are broken. Of course you can say whatever you want."

Marcus's call came through at that moment.

I answered. Before I could speak, he said, "I'm at the entrance. Vivian sent me a message saying you're at the hospital threatening suicide and told me not to come."

I looked up at Vivian.

Her expression finally changed slightly.

I asked into the phone, "Why did you come?"

Marcus said, "To see how far one person can take their lies."

Before I could respond, Ethan suddenly snatched my phone and hung up directly.

"Enough. Stop dragging innocent people into this."

I reached for it.

He held the phone up high.

"Apologize to Vivian first."

I said, "Give it back."

Linda blocked Vivian. "Apologize, or you're not leaving today."

I looked at Sandra.

She shook her head, crying. "Peyton, just lower your head."

In that moment, I really was backed into a corner.

No cameras, no witnesses, not even my own family on my side.

I slowly spoke. "I'm sorry."

Vivian lowered her eyes.

"It's okay. I forgive you."

I stared at her scraped wrist.

"But you'd better remember—scrapes heal. Lies don't."

Ethan tossed my phone back into my arms.

"If you're really sick, don't drag other people down to rot with you."