Chapter 1

The Echo in the Mirror: My Mother's Escape

My mom was a university student, sold into an isolated rural community to be a breeder.

She always said her biggest regret was giving birth to me.

When Grandma forced her to do heavy labor, only allowing her a bowl of thin gruel, she called me a curse.

When her father-in-law groped her, she called me that little monster from the Miller family.

When Dad, drunk, beat her black and blue, she’d ask me when I was going to die.

“That year, I could have escaped. Why did you have to run out? Why did you call me 'Mom' and make me soft?”

“I wish I never had you, my daughter!”

She must have said that a thousand times. I never understood it.

Until that day. I saw her young face in the mirror Mom cherished most.

It was smudged and dusty, but free of wrinkles and scars.

She asked, “Who are you? Can you save me? I was tricked into coming here!”

That moment, I finally understood what "shackles" in books truly meant.

I was Mom's shackles, the chains that bound her to a life of misery.

The next second, I spoke to my younger mom.

“I’ll save you. This time, I’ll definitely get you out!”