Chapter 7 - The livestream
Eleanor had watched more than the slap.
The tablet was streaming for nearly forty minutes before I arrived.
My mother recorded family livestreams sometimes because she liked saving birthday moments.
The service automatically archived the session.
Police obtained a copy from her after she consented.
It showed:
Aubrielle opening a gift.
Marietta removing it.
Handing it to Claire.
A guest saying:
“Isn’t that Aubrielle’s?”
Marietta:
“Claire will appreciate it.”
Another clip:
Aubrielle reaching for cake before candles.
Marietta knocking her hand away.
Not a slap yet.
Then:
“You wait until wanted guests are served.”
A guest laughed nervously.
Nobody intervened.
That made me angry at more people than Marietta.
Then the final assault.
Aubrielle reached toward the cake again after candles.
Marietta struck her.
One slap.
Aubrielle fell into the gift table.
Marietta:
“Birthday cake is for wanted children.”
The recording preserved the sequence.
No enhancement.
No magically restored hidden audio.
Clear enough already.
Then the threat after I threw cake.
“Your mother cuts you off.”
May you like
My mother watched herself become a weapon in someone else’s mouth.
That bothered Eleanor almost as much as the slap.
