Insults crashed over me from every direction.
"Freak!" "Pervert!" "Disgrace!"
Mom suddenly burst into sobs. She dropped to her knees and grabbed my arm. "It's my fault. Mommy didn't take care of you. Why didn't you tell me you were sick? However much it costs, Mommy will get you treated..."
Uncle Albert yanked her away. "Wake up! She brought this on herself! Born rotten! Cursed her own father to death! Cursed her own mother!"
I looked at my uncle. Then at my mother, still crying. Then at all those cameras pointed at me.
"Fine."
My voice came out so calm it surprised even me.
"Since you all think I was born rotten, I'll own it."
"Let's sever ties."
"From now on, I have no mother. No uncle. No aunt. Pretend that eighteen years ago, I really did drown in that chamber pot."
I picked up a lab report and scrawled a few lines on the back.
I threw the paper at Uncle Albert's feet.
"Sign it."
"Sign it, and I disappear forever."
"If we don't cut ties today, I'll take your surname!"
Uncle Albert's spit nearly hit my face. "From this day forward, no one in this family will ever acknowledge you!"