“Im glad he’s dead.” I snarled. I could say that now, I shot a piercing glare across the open casket at my mother challenging her to just dare defend him again after everything that he had done.

I could still feel how Doug, my stepfather, still had a presence about him despite lying there; motionless. It was as if at any moment now he would leap from the casket and start off on one off his abusive rages.

Doug was always right. And doubly so, when mum would say; ‘ Do as he says, darling’ and I could never refuse my mother. I can still see the smirk on his face when he had won.

I hated it how mum always had to be the diplomatic one, keeping the peace amd making sure Doug was appeased. How could she love such a cruel,nasty man.

She held my stare, she didn’t lower her eyes or avert her gaze as sshe would have done only days ago; and almost in a whisper she said “I’m glad he’s dead too my darling.”