When I found out my husband was having an affair with my own mother, my world completely shattered… I always thought they just got along well, but as it turned out, they liked each other much more than I ever expected. I was disgusted… They were the two most special people in my life, and they betrayed me like this. So, I did something to take revenge. You’d probably expect to hear I filed for divorce and kicked both of them out of my life. But that would be letting them get away with it too easily… I decided I needed to do something much worse. But to get back at them, I knew I had to plan it out perfectly. This revenge had to be a work of art, a shock to everyone. I knew that neither of them deserved my love, and I would not remain quiet regarding this betrayal. I wanted to make sure that the things I felt, they would feel tenfold.  And thus, I started my scheming. Gathering evidence, covering my own tracks, and learning things I had never thought of before. I knew that the things I had concocted would all fall into place. Even when the whole town thought I had gone mad, one person from my past believed in me, and that was all I needed to push me over the edge.  When the night came that my plan would finally be finalized, James and my mother even dared to walk in together. They looked happy, absolutely disgusting; I knew I had to do something about that.  From the red stain to the weirdly colored plants, James and my mother had no clue what I had in store for them… The day I stumbled upon the truth was the day my universe crumbled. My husband, the man I had given my heart and soul to, was involved with the last person I’d ever expect — my mother. I should have seen the signs, their secret smiles, exchanged looks. All I knew now was that they would rue the day.  They were the pillars of my life — my confidant and my first love. And now, both had driven a stake through my heart. As anger bubbled inside me, thoughts of revenge consumed my mind. Most would think of divorce, a public confrontation, or maybe even a scandal, but that would be too predictable; they needed to feel how I felt.  No, I needed a plan that would echo in their lives long after the dust had settled. They tried talking to me about their horrid affair, calling it love, saying that they didn’t have malicious intent, but no matter their pleas, I knew that my plan wouldn’t change. I knew it would be the one thing that could make me happy. I had noticed how stoic I had become. Even mere days after the affair had come to light, I’d worn a mask of normalcy. The facade, however, was just that. Beneath the calm demeanor I tried to uphold; a storm was brewing. No one could know what I was planning, and I made sure of it… However, some of my friends, mainly Sarah, had noticed a change. “You’re different,” she said one day, a note of worry in her eyes. “Distracted, distant…” I smiled, not wanting to give away anything. “I’m just trying to forgive and forget; it just takes time,” I said, diverting attention to what could be mistaken for grief.  My husband, James, too, began to sense the shift. Our conversations became limited, often interrupted by my distant looks. He tried to probe, seeking answers, he used to be so good at getting me out of my shell, but now I continually diverted him with one excuse or another. He wouldn’t find out what I was planning. To probably get a rise out of me, James announced he would give me space by moving in with my mother. Though not far, the woman lived across the street; the small distance was appreciated. That way, I needed to be less secretive in my home.  The house bore witness to my change. Scribbled notes scattered around my study. Bottles of different sizes, some containing clear liquids, others with colored concoctions, sat lined up on my table. Everything seemed fine until Sarah caught a glimpse of something that could be nefarious. I claimed that it was just paint, but the doubt remained. I noticed people watching me when I saw friends and family tailing my car. This meant I had to leave early, sometimes even before the sun had risen to a secluded spot at the edge of town. No one could know what lay there; I had to make sure of it. I started to look into new hobbies as well. Botanicals suddenly seemed like a possibility for me. James had always said it to be a waste of time, but now that I was free, he couldn’t stop me from pursuing my interest. It certainly was interesting to find out the potency of certain plants; it would be vital to know which ones might be poisonous… Things took a turn when Sarah walked into the living room to find me engrossed in a book about plants and various unfamiliar botanicals in front of me. She saw a peculiar plant; its vibrant purple leaves stood out amongst the green. I ushered her out of my home before she could ask me what I was doing. In town, whispers of me going mad started circulating. I had taken up many strange hobbies. According to them, my interest in botanicals, herbalism, and true crime shows that blasted from my house until late in the night disturbed my neighbors. I was glad they were confused; it only meant they didn’t see the whole picture. The only person going against the accusations of me becoming crazy was an old friend from college, Elena. We hadn’t seen each other in ages, but after seeing she had moved back into town, she seemed to be a beacon of light amidst my gloom. But then she revealed something terrible… One evening, over a cup of steaming tea brewed by yours truly, Elena revealed a story from her past, a tale of betrayal eerily similar to mine. Her ex-fiance had left her for her younger sister, a pain described as “a dagger through the heart.” In turn, I told her my story, to which she said, “That is quite the plan; whatever you choose to do, I fully support you.” “It is not about them anymore,” she continued, “It’s about you, your healing, and the life you choose from here on.” Hearing those words brought me solace; because of it, I knew I couldn’t stop until it was over. Even if it was hard, and I wanted to fall back into old habits, I knew I had to push through… I knew I was going to make my stand. I tried talking to Sarah about my next course of action, but she said just to forgive and forget. “It is your mother,” she said, angering me. No family of mine would betray me like this. She killed me by doing such a thing to me. How could the mother that raised me do such a thing? I had to go up to the attic to gather one of my plan’s final ingredients. It was incredibly dusty; no one had been there for quite some time. When I saw a large spider, I couldn’t help but yelp out James’ name; how stupid of me. The only person who could save me now was me. There were piles of various boxes, all having content that I hardly remember. Some belonged solely to James, others were shared, and some were mine. However, the thing I was trying so hard to find seemed nowhere to be found. I was annoyed, and in my annoyance, I had pushed over a few boxes, but what fell out of one of them brought tears to my eyes. It was a photograph of me and my mother. It was taken spontaneously. A friend of my mom’s had taken it while teaching me to ride a bike. I remember it too, her hand steady on the seat, encouraging words pushing me forward. Back then, I thought my mother was invincible, my ultimate protector. I couldn’t have been more wrong… Other memories seep into my brain, but as they play out, they become tainted with the knowledge of betrayal. The love that once seemed so genuine now appeared hollow. As the past intermingled with the present, the weight of the betrayal grew heavier, and the need for closure became more pressing. I knew I had to finish what I started. It was one final thing I had to do. However, how would I ensure no one would notice I was gone for a few days? I didn’t feel like I could trust Sarah anymore, and thus, I asked Elena to cover for me. A part of me knew that this was the point of no return. I remember taking the trip; being a few days away from all the commotion gave me a new perspective. I knew this type of revenge was important; it would give me the closure I deserved. I firmly believed it was also the future James and the traitor that called herself my mother deserved. When I finally came home, my mother was the first person who came up to me to make sure I was okay. She said she ‘feared the worst’ as if I would give them the satisfaction of ending it like that. A part of me smiled at her worry. She had no clue what I had in store for her and James. The invitations went out, elegant cards bearing a simple message: “Join me for a night to remember.” Everyone, from old acquaintances to nosy neighbors, was invited to the grand hall downtown. The date was set; it would be a day to remember. It would be the day that I would be truly free. Luckily, I had planned it in advance, giving me more time to finish my preparations. It was hard to keep it a secret as people kept trying to see if I was okay. They had no clue that my husband had cheated on me with my mom. They had simply presumed that we had a ‘rough’ patch and were heading towards divorce.  Would it be humiliating to tell people that my husband had preferred my mother over me? It is shameful to even think about it. That ratched hag had stolen the love of my life me, and he had let her! I knew my ego could never withstand this. Whatever happened to me after, I needed this plan to go through. I knew I had to have a few things ready for the big day, but the most essential thing would be a getaway car. I couldn’t let people catch me before my departure. The get-away car would keep me out of certain people’s clutches. After everything had happened, I had to leave as fast as possible.  The only thing I had left to do was take a final trip and document everything that I had been doing. In the early morning, I took off again to go to the edge of town and started shooting some photos. It would most likely be one of my final times in this abandoned greenhouse, overrun with exotic plants. It had been the place where I had found that purple plant in my book, to begin with. Being inside the greenhouse renewed my vigor for everything, as working alone with some plants felt incredibly peaceful. Plus, these plants would play a massive role in my upcoming future. It hadn’t been longer than a few hours before I made my way home, saying goodbye to the plants I had taken under my care and taking the ones I had grown the most attached to. I finally understood ‘plant moms’. Seeing those little fuckers grow and prosper did me good, especially during these trying times. With my trunk and backseat loaded up with the plants I couldn’t leave behind, I made the drive back, taking multiple detours as I did. Honestly, the greenhouse also had been a form of escapism as I didn’t like being at the home that reminded me of them. Maybe I should have been the one to move out. The home James and I shared had been of my late grandfather. It had been an asset before our marriage and something that James could never touch. Still, I remember running the halls as a child, guided by my mom. He had been my paternal grandfather and decided I should inherit the home after my father’s passing. My father had died more than a decade ago from cancer. It had ruined my mother, and I had believed her never to recover. At that point in time, she had been devastated by the loss. She had claimed that he was the love of her life, but I guess she had been wrong about that as she had stolen mine. Though I presume that if he had been that easy to steal, he was never truly mine. That was a fact that broke my heart even more. Doubt suddenly started to settle; what did my mother have that I didn’t? I was practically the younger version of her. I just couldn’t understand what had gone wrong in our marriage… I must have been driving around for around an hour. It had been nice and quiet except for the small remnants of self-doubt. This car, in and of itself, held no complex memories of my past relationship. Driving felt freeing, but as I drove back into my street, I was startled by the person in my driveway. A Car was parked in front of my home, and on the curb stood Sarah. When she saw my car, she immediately jumped in front of it to stop me. Lucky for her, I pressed the breaks. If I hadn’t, she would have been hit with that reckless behavior of her. I rolled down my window. “What the actual fuck Sarah. I could have hit you!” I yelled at her, irritated at the way she had been acting. Sarah went to my window, a concerned look on her face. “Jill, I’m sorry for startling you like that. I was just afraid you would run, nay, drive off again, or push me away. You are my best friend and we need to talk…” “Actually Sarah, though we are great friends, this is none of your business. I think it is best to just leave me to my devices.” I stated, but Sarah, who was not easily deterred, gently said, “Jill, I know things have been tough. But running away from your loved ones isn’t the answer.” My eyes had gotten teary, and all the pent-up anger and sorrow started to come out at the sight of my best friend. “You have no idea what I’m going through, Sarah. Nobody does,” I snapped. She touched my arm as she spoke, “Maybe not entirely. But you’re not alone. Please come inside.”  I was guided into the living room and met countless faces I instantly recognized. My closest friends and family had come to my aid. My cousin, Tom, was the first to step forward, “Jill, we’ve all been worried. You’ve been distant, and that is not like you.” which was followed by another recognizable voice from the crowd.  Aunt Clara stepped forward, the aunt on my father’s side, who had also been divorced, and said, “Divorce is hard, sweetheart. But you don’t have to go through it alone.” Instead of returning to the crowd, Aunt Clara approached me and encased me into a hug that reminded me of a motherly hug. I melted into her embrace. I had no clue how much I needed this during these challenging times. As I responded and tears started streaming down my cheeks, I felt other people join the hug as this massive bundle of support surrounded me. Usually, it would have made me feel claustrophobic, but now it had been everything I needed.  Aunt Clara brought me to a more secluded corner of the room. She looked at me with that deep, knowing gaze of hers. “Jill, I see the pain in your eyes. It’s familiar to me. I’ve been there, and I saw the love of my life in the arms of another. You can talk to me, dearest.” Did she know about Mom and James? If she knew my plan would fall apart. I was betting on it to remain a secret. At first, people had been confused about James moving out and living with my mom, but they soon rationalized it in a way that, in their head, he would be living in the apartment in her yard to give us both space for the divorce proceedings.  Instead, I just decided to answer her vaguely while still asking the questions I wanted answered, “Aunt Clara, how did you get over it? Every time I close my eyes, I picture him with someone else, tears me apart. Why couldn’t he just have been happy with me?”  Her eyes were full of understanding, “Oh, Jill. That’s one of the hardest parts, isn’t it? The thought of someone you loved so deeply sharing moments with someone else.” I nodded, “I just cannot bear it. Every time I imagine it, my heart feels like it’s being squeezed, and I can hardly breathe.”  “When Robert and I parted ways, I was tormented by the same fears-” I cut in, “But how did you cope?” She paused. Even as a young kid, I had always loved Aunt Clara. A part of me wanted indirect consent for my plans for James and that devil of a mother. Then she said something that shocked me. She did seem deep in thought about my question, trying to find the right words. “When he told me he wanted a divorce, I wanted him to feel my pain. Initially, during the proceedings, I tried to avoid him. But soon, I realized I couldn’t hide forever. If I hid, he would win. So I had to face my fears…” I had no clue that Aunt Clara’s mind was so like mine. I wanted James to feel pain, but would her words deter me? “I prepared myself mentally to face him and chose to do what made me feel happy instead of worrying about him. James’ choices shouldn’t determine your happiness.” She said as she touched my cheek, wiping away the tears. “What about the pain you wanted him to feel? How did you do that?” I asked, maybe Aunt Clara would give me some more inspiration. She seemed to understand the need to make the one who betrayed the marriage pay the price. However, I had never expected her to say this… “Though I understand you feelings, they are real and intense, but with time they become bearable. You find that as you focus on yourself, as you rebuild en rediscover your identity, his choice will impact you less and less. It isn’t about him anymore, Jill. It’s about you.” I added to this in my head: and the revenge you get. As the evening wore on, and I lay alone in bed, the room’s shadows mirrored the darker thoughts of revenge that began to creep back in. Aunt Clara’s advice made sense in a world of fairness and righteousness, but I didn’t live in that world. If I did, this type of cheating would never have happened. A primal urge surged within me, demanding action and justice. I tried to rationalize it; maybe I had made a mistake. Nevertheless, deep down, I believed James should pay for the pain he caused. Perhaps it was too late to stop now, as my plans had begun to hatch.  The days leading up to that fateful night were a blur. My study had become a sanctuary of the plants I had taken from the old greenhouse and old botany books, holding the secrets of what those plants could do to living beings. Papers were strewn everywhere, and my plans for James, my mom, and my future were hidden within them.  I started to see some other people as well, who all seemed incredibly interested in the contents of my home. Over the next few days, they would come and go until one person showed some extra interest in everything I had shown. He was the final piece to the puzzle.  With my new plants, I made all types of different blends for my teas, which I had learned with my new herbology hobby. I was drinking one of my latest concoctions as I looked at my plants in the garden, particularly foxglove, belladonna, and monkswood, gently swaying with the winds. The night before, the large gathering had been restless and filled with dreams about the possibilities of the night to come. The most notable one had been James standing in the center, a glass of my special brew in hand. The culmination of my weeks of preparation would be that one sip, one fatal choice. However, this wasn’t solely about James anymore nor my mother. It was about me, reclaiming my power and dignity, and ensuring that no one ever pierced the armor I had so carefully forged. The stage surely was set for a night to remember, and I couldn’t wait for it to start… I was the first at the venue, ensuring everything was perfect. The seating chart was precisely how I had envisioned it. The plants I had found looked perfectly in the middle of each table as centerpieces, and my flowers that had been outside last night were now standing at the edges of the room. It was half past 7 when people started to come into the venue, and everyone sat down at their predetermined tables and seats. I had made sure to place everyone with people they liked and, most importantly, to place James and my mother on one of the tables in the center of the room.  Both wary yet curious, James and my mother entered the venue with other guests, probably relieved at the number of people. Everyone sat at their table, and I sent the drinks to every guest, each specifically made for them. “Those two are for them,” I said, pointing the waitress towards James and my mother. The doors closed as the clock struck eight, and the lights dimmed ever so slightly. I took the stage to which every table was looking. “Thank you all for coming tonight,” I began, my voice steady as I spoke. I did a typical opening for events like these, but as I spoke, my eyes gleamed with something more sinister as I saw them drinking their drink. “This evening, however, is not a simple gathering ladies and gentlemen, but a revelation.” I continued. Using a remote, I clicked to activate something behind me. The lights were now almost completely turned off, and with it I heard a squeak coming from my mother as she saw what came on the large screen. Images began to flash that stopped the murmurs coming from the crowd. Their voices echoed no longer about my strange behavior and way of handling things. No, now their jaws hung open. Even Aunt Clara, whom I had positioned at one of the tables closer to the front, looked utterly aghast at the sight in front of her. You see, aside from trying out new hobbies to help flourish my new life, I made sure that James leaving my home meant him no longer having access to his Macbook. Which, funnily enough, had all the proof of my mother and his affair. I smirked widely as a slideshow began of their betrayal. Photographs, text messages, and even videos were displayed before the entire town. I knew they would never be able to live this down, and the two of them had never even thought of leaving this small town; they didn’t know better than to live here. Nevertheless, this was only the beginning as I broke the silence.  I glanced at my Aunt Clara before I started, pride on her face. “I could have chosen many ways to react. Anger. Grief. Retribution. Instead, I chose freedom.” With a press of a button, the horrifying images of James and my mother change to a serene-looking house, confusing the whole crowd once again. “This is where I will live, where the both of you,” I enunciated you to James and my mother, both red from shame, “-will never find me. A place where I can freely express myself through my plants and painting, the things you had always hated me doing.” I gave James a pointed stare. This was me stepping back into my own person once again. Then a loud wet sounding fart came from the center of the room. It seemed like the buckthorn, a laxative herb I had put in their drink, had worked as they both couldn’t turn redder than this exact moment. Public humiliation was always the best form of revenge, wasn’t it? The two of them would never live this down! I walked off the stage and hugged my Aunt. “I will shoot you a message so you know to which airport to fly as soon as I get settled. My plane flies out tonight.” I said, kissing Clara’s cheek before taking my getaway rental car. My car had long been sold, and I drove to the airport, to my new life. Finally, making it to my new home felt amazing. The idyllic farm I had bought had been cozy and the exact place to make a little garden where I could farm my own fruits, vegetables, and herbs. The poisonous plants only needed identification so I could get rid of them so the animals on the farm could have a carefree life, too. I had invited my friends, Aunt Clara and Cousin Tom, to come over in due time, but most of the time, I would just work remotely, farm my few crops to sustain myself and paint in my free time. I didn’t even care anymore about my mother and James; I was just living my life the way I wanted to.