Part 2Born into the Wrong World

Just then, the door opened, and our neighbor, Nancy, walked in.

Seeing Mom laying into Mike, a knowing smile spread across Nancy’s face. She said,

"Your man's always been trouble. I told you, you need to discipline him properly, but you never listen!"

Mike stared at Nancy, bewildered. Before he could say anything, Mom slapped him again. "Who told you to look! Pathetic!"

If looks could kill, Mom would have been dead a thousand times over from Mike's glare.

He ground out through clenched teeth, "You just wait. I'll kill you!"

"Ooh! Hear that? Thinking of rebelling, are we?"

Before Mom could react, I rushed over to Mike. I looked him up and down with mock concern, grabbed a handful of his hair with one hand, and slapped him hard across the face with the other. Five times.

Beating up a defenseless Mike? I felt zero guilt.

In fact, deep down, there was a thrill, a dark pleasure of revenge.

Because for years, this was exactly how he had treated me.

I expected him to spit out threats, but instead, he threw up.

Violently, uncontrollably.

The sight of the mess on the floor made my own stomach churn.

Mom, who'd been on the verge of exploding again, now looked at Mike with confusion. She glanced at me meaningfully and asked, "Is your man pregnant?"

"Pregnant?"

The word was so familiar. I'd carried our daughter for ten months myself.

But hearing it applied to Mike…

It was… novel.

Tentatively, I asked Mom, "He's pregnant?"

Mom rolled her eyes at me and tapped my head. "Your own man is pregnant, and you don't even know?"

I rubbed my head, feeling a bit sheepish. Before I could reply, Nancy chimed in, "Well, it's Megan's first time marrying a man. It's normal she doesn't have experience.

"If this one keeps acting up, just divorce him and marry again. You'll know better next time."

This Reversed World? I was starting to seriously dig it.

Before I could even process my excitement, Mom was urging me, "What are you standing there gawking for? Get your man to the clinic for a check-up! He's been freeloading off us for years; it's about time he gave us a daughter!"

Mom finished, then smiled at Nancy. "When you have time later, maybe you can introduce Megan to a good man!"

Nancy just grinned, nodded, and patted her chest like it was already done.