"Yeah, Emily, John was just joking. He'd never lock you out!"
Joking?
I yawned. "Fine,keep waiting. I'll let you in when I feel like it."

Ethan, arms crossed, pouted. "Mom, you're so mean. What if Aunt Sarah's baby freezes? You'd be a murderer!"
I slapped his face, snapping, "Shut up! If you care so much,go join them!"
Ethan fell silent ,tears welling up.
I sighed, hugging him. "Ethan, don't blame Mommy. If they come in, there won't be enough snacks for you."
Ethan stayed quiet, his eyes drifting to the food.
I stashed the food in a cabinet under the bed, told Ethan to sleep, and stayed by the bed, guarding them.

As night fell, the snow continued, and the noise outside stopped.
I thought they'd gone to beg others for help. Exhaustion hit, and my eyelids drooped.
I dozed off, but a rustling sound woke me.
Opening my eyes, I saw Ethan sneaking the keys from my pocket.

When he saw me awake, he hurried up and opened the door.
John and Sarah, who were waiting outside, rushed in.
John tried to pushed Sarah in..
I shoved Ethan aside and kicked Sarah's shoulder.
She screamed, falling onto John.
John groaned, cursing, "Emily, you bitch! You're trying to kill us!"
I slammed the door shut before he could climb in.
His hand got caught in the door frame, and he howled in pain, still trying to pry it open.
I pulled with all my strength. "John, if you want that hand, let go!"
"You damn woman! Roll to hell, you bitch!"
His pain-fueled curses grew wilder.
I braced one foot on the floor, one against the wall, pulling harder.
He'd been out in the cold too long and was weakening.
As his hand started to slip, a sharp pain shot through my wrist.
Ethan was biting me, his face as ferocious as his father's.
"Let go! Let my dad in!"
I couldn't hit him, so I bit John's finger hard.
He screamed, yanking his hand back, and I locked the door.
Something was in my mouth. I spat it out—a piece of flesh.
Ethan trembled, but his mouth stayed defiant. "You're a bad mom! If you don't let Dad in, I won't call you Mom anymore!"
Furious, I kicked him against the door, wiping blood from my lips. "Then get out and see if your dad cares about you!"
Ethan wailed, "Bad Mom! You only care about Lily! I don't want you anymore!"
He started clawing at the window. I didn't coddle him.
"One last time: you sure you want your dad?"
Ethan, fists clenched, screamed, "I want Dad!I want Dad!"
I grabbed his collar, opened the window, and threw him out.
He rolled in the snow, running to John, crying, "Dad, Mom hit me! She's bullying me!"
John pushed him away, clutching his bleeding finger. "Emily, you're a lunatic! Throwing out your own son? When the cops get here, you're done!"
I peered through the window slit, cold. "Keep waiting."
With the snow sealing the roads, not even a police dog could get through.