The clacking sound of my mother's heels echoed through the foyer as I was making my way to the stairs. I decided to pretend like I didn't hear it and started the ascent to my bedroom.

My foot just landed on the second step when my hair was yanked with such force I toppled backwards, my elbow hitting the railing before I landed hard on my left hip. Pain exploded through my left side and the back of my head, which bounced off of the hardwood floor.

Gritting my teeth, I shook my head to clear the fog from my brain and looked up to see who in the slimy vag sauce would yank me like that. Even though I already knew.

"Where were you? I told you a week ago that we had brunch with the Thompsons today. You made me look like a fool making excuses as to why my daughter wasn't there."

I rubbed my sore head. "Firstly, I don't remember a brunch. Secondly, why would you need me there?"

My snark earned me a high heel shoe to the ribs.

"It is not your place to question me. You were supposed to attend and that's it. I have it rescheduled for next Tuesday. And you will be there. I think you need a reminder of the fact that you'd have nothing without me."

She blessed me with one last glare as she calmly walked off, leaving me on the floor like a piece of unwanted garbage.

Carefully, I stood up and slowly made my way up the stairs to my bedroom. A shower was in order before my shift at the coffee shop.

Even though the shower took longer than usual, it helped me relax. I wasn't a stranger to bruised ribs and concussions. As I examined myself in the full-length mirror, I couldn't help thinking that it could've been worse.

There was a bruise with the exact shape of the outer sole of those high heel shoes on my right side, along with the bruise that covered most of my left hip. My elbow had been dripping blood from a small gash. And the cherry on top was the goose egg on the back of my head which continued to throb.

I pulled on some dark skinny jeans and an oversized violet sweater, tugged my black ankle boots on and snuck out of the house as quietly as I could.

The coffee shop was moderately busy when I got there, pulling on my apron and giving Rochelle a wave as I joined her behind the counter. Rochelle trained me when I first got hired, but we never really talked. So I started restocking the necessities.

A few hours into my shift I was in storage looking for more napkins, when a familiar voice came from the front of the shop.

Flapping pork chops, did I not deserve a break?

It wasn't as if I could hide back here forever.

"Harper!"

… I wasn't ACTUALLY going to hide back here, but couldn't I get five forking minutes?!

I peered out of the storage doorway to Rochelle. "What's up?"

All she does is point toward none other than Clone number three.