It was the weekend, and the whole family drove out to this remote lake up in the hills to take pictures of my nephew for some competition.

Suddenly, Kevin shrieked. He had several leeches clamped onto his ankle.

I quickly grabbed a small utility knife to scrape them off. The bites were bleeding quite a bit.

But Kevin started yelling that I'd cut him on purpose. He snatched the knife and slashed wildly at my face, several times.

My brother, my sister-in-law, Mom, Dad – they all just watched Kevin ruin my face, even saying I deserved it.

Later, on the way down the mountain path, Kevin deliberately shoved me.

My whole family just stared blankly as I dangled from the cliff edge. Not one person reached out to help me.

Then, I blinked. And Kevin was pointing at his ankle, yelling, "What is this bug? It's huge!"

I looked over, my voice flat. "It's nothing. Just flick it off."

"Sarah, move back! You're blocking the shot!"

Through the fog in my head, I heard my sister-in-law, Linda's, impatient voice.

My brother, Mike, yanked my arm hard. "Didn't you hear her talking to you? Just standing there like a damn statue."

It hit me then. I was reborn. I was back at the edge of that remote lake on the hilltop.

Kevin was striking poses by the water's edge. He wore a crisp white shirt and black overalls, his pale little face looking cherubic, almost pinchable.

Who could believe this sunny, adorable little boy was the monster who’d disfigured me and sent me falling to my death?

"Kevin, honey, step back a bit more, closer to the water. Yes, right there!"

Linda's camera clicked away, capturing every 'precious' moment.

The whole reason we'd trekked up this godforsaken hill today was to get the perfect set of photos for Kevin.

Mike and Linda planned to submit them to a big casting call held by a media company. The winner got a contract as a child model.

Neither of them had a real job. They were pinning all their hopes on Kevin becoming famous and making them rich.

This casting call? They were dead set on winning.

"Kevin, just a little further back, stand in the water a bit. The light's better there. Mom, go help Kevin fix his clothes and hat."

Mom scurried over, fussing over Kevin.

But before Linda could even snap another picture, Kevin screamed.

"There's a bug in the water!"

Linda waved it off. "Of course, there are bugs. It's nature. Just ignore it and look at the camera!"

Kevin was uneasy, looking down again. "It's crawling on me!"

He started stomping his foot frantically, trying to shake it off, but it wouldn't budge.

I leaned in for a look. Clinging tightly to his ankle was a fat, bloodsucking leech.

Last time, when I saw the leech, I immediately found my knife to help him get it off.

The bites bled non-stop because leech saliva contains an anticoagulant.

But Kevin had insisted I cut him on purpose with the knife.

He’d grabbed the knife from me and slashed my face like a maniac.

I screamed, clutching my face and running, but Kevin just laughed loudly behind me.

"You cut my ankle, so I messed up your face!"

When I found a mirror, I almost collapsed. My face was covered in jagged cuts, blood everywhere. Kevin had permanently disfigured me.

"Dad, please, take me to the hospital!" I’d begged.

"What hospital? Just wipe it with a tissue," he’d said dismissively.

I couldn't believe it. "I'm bleeding this badly, and you want me to use a tissue?"

Linda chimed in, dripping sarcasm. "Well, you shouldn't have cut my son's ankle. Serves you right."

Mike backed her up. "Yeah, besides, kids don't know their own strength. You're his aunt, don't make a big deal out of it."

Mom pulled me aside, dabbing at my face with a tissue. "Sarah, Kevin still has lots of pictures left to take. Don't waste everyone's time."

My heart felt like it had turned to ice. I could only grit my teeth and swallow the humiliation.

We finally packed up when the sun started to set.

"Mom," I tried again, "can we please stop by the hospital on the way home?"

"We have antiseptic at home. Just clean it up there."

"Mom, if I don't go to the hospital, my face will scar!"

Mike snapped impatiently. "So what if it scars? It's not like you're pretty anyway!"

Kevin piped up, "Aunt Sarah's ugly! Scars or no scars, it's all the same!"

Tears I couldn't stop slid down my cheeks. I bit my lip, silent.

Then, suddenly, Kevin pushed me hard from behind.

I lost my footing, tumbled down the slope, and went over the edge of the cliff. My hands scrabbled, catching onto a protruding rock just in time.

"Mom! Dad! Help me! Mike! Linda! Grab my hand!"

I screamed for help, but they just stood there, watching me with cold indifference.

Not a single hand reached out.

Eventually, my strength gave out. I fell into the abyss, shattering on the rocks below.

This time? I wasn't getting involved.

Kevin was freaking out about the bug. "What is this thing? It's huge!"

Mike and Linda rushed over. Even they flinched seeing the leech, fat and swollen with blood.

I watched coolly from the side. "It's nothing. Just flick it off."

Linda ordered Mike, "Get that disgusting thing off Kevin right now!"

Mike looked scared too but shuffled forward hesitantly. He grabbed the leech and yanked.

It didn't come off.

The leech's mouthparts were latched deep into Kevin's ankle, like they were burrowed into his flesh.

The harder Mike pulled, the tighter it clung.

Kevin started crying. "Daddy, get it off! Get it off!"

Mike got rough, gave one massive pull, and finally ripped the leech free.

He threw it onto the bank and stomped on it hard.

There was a sickening squish, and blood sprayed everywhere.

Mike looked shaken. When he turned back to Kevin, he saw the ankle bleeding uncontrollably.

He quickly carried Kevin ashore, grabbing tissues to press against the wound, but they soaked through almost instantly.

Mike didn't know that ripping a leech off like that often leaves the mouthparts embedded in the skin, leading to infection and complications.

Linda was beside herself. "What kind of bug is this? How could it bite my son so badly!" she whined at Mom.

"Mom, what kind of dump did you bring us to? It's full of giant bugs!"

"What's wrong with this place?" Mom defended herself. "It's beautiful! Green hills, clear water. The best part is, the scenery's great, nobody's here, and it's free! If we went to some other park, it'd be packed, not to mention the expensive entrance fees. For all of us? Think how much that would cost!"

Linda shut up. She might feel bad for her son, but she loved money more.

Mom peered closer at the wound. "Looks like a small bite. Just keep pressure on it, it'll be fine."

After Mike held pressure for a long time, the bleeding finally slowed.

Seeing things calm down, Mom immediately pushed them to continue the photoshoot.

But Kevin refused to go back in the water. "Grandma, there are big bugs in the water! I'm scared!"

"Then just stand near the edge," Mom suggested.

Linda looked around, still convinced the light was better in the water.

"Kevin, honey, Daddy already killed the big bug. Don't be scared, there are no more big bugs in the water now."

Kevin still refused. Linda kept coaxing.

"How about this? Daddy will go with you. If there are any more bugs, Daddy will catch them."

After a lot of cajoling, Kevin finally nodded.

Mike carried Kevin back into the water, gave him a pep talk, then stepped aside.

I watched the lake water, barely covering Mike's ankles, and a small smile touched my lips.

They kept at it until the sun finally went down, and Linda capped the camera lens.

"Okay, I think that's enough for today."

I piped up, "The scenery here is nice. Let's take a family photo!"

Linda immediately shoved the camera at me. "Fine. You take it for us."

Wow. So much for a family photo that actually included me.

I took the camera. "Okay, everyone stand next to Kevin. Move a little further in, yeah, right there, the light's good."

Mom, Dad, Mike, and Linda all waded into the water. They lined up, waiting for me.

I deliberately fumbled. "Uh, how does this thing work?"

"Ugh, you're useless." Linda came over impatiently to show me. "Got it now?"

"Yeah, yeah, got it. Go get back in place."

I raised the camera. "Okay, squeeze together a bit. Perfect. Stay like that, I'll take a few."

I clicked the shutter repeatedly, taking several shots.

Linda snatched the camera back to review them. She seemed satisfied enough.

We all headed down the mountain together. This time, I learned my lesson and walked behind the little monster.

As soon as we got in the car, Kevin started complaining that his ankle hurt.

Linda pulled up his pant leg. The spot where the leech had bitten was red and swollen, with a distinct triangular mark.

She shrugged it off. "It's fine. We'll put some cream on it when we get home."

But Kevin didn't look fine. His face seemed paler than before.

"Mommy, I'm cold."

Linda found a jacket and draped it over him, but he still seemed restless.

"Mommy, I don't feel good."

"Where don't you feel good?"

"Everywhere."

Linda assumed he was just being difficult. "If you don't feel good, then go to sleep!"

When we got home, Linda shook Kevin awake.

"We're home. Come on, get out."

Kevin was unsteady on his feet, but nobody seemed to notice or care.

For dinner, Mom made simple noodles. Kevin frowned at his bowl. "I'm not hungry."

Mom tried to coax him, thinking he was just being picky. "Kev, Grandma's noodles are delicious. Just try some."

Kevin picked up a single strand with his fork, put it in his mouth, but didn't swallow.

"Kevin, just eat this tonight, okay? Tomorrow Grandma will take you out for a big treat."

Mike slurped down his own bowl in two bites. "Mom, don't worry about him. If he doesn't eat, he's not hungry. Kevin, listen up, if you don't eat now, there's nothing else later. You can just go hungry!"

Kevin put down his fork, looking pitifully at his dad.

Mike got annoyed. "Just let him starve then."

After dinner, Linda started reviewing the day's photos, picking through them, but couldn't find any she was truly happy with.

"We'll have to go back again tomorrow. These shots aren't quite perfect."

"Ow!" Mike suddenly yelled, startling Linda.

"What's wrong with you!"

Linda looked down and her skin crawled. Mike had four or five angry leech bites on both his lower legs.

She grabbed the antiseptic. "Quick, disinfect these."

Mike grumbled, "Too many damn bugs in that lake!"

"One last trip tomorrow, then we're never going back there again," Linda declared.

The next morning, Linda went to wake Kevin.

He dragged his feet, refusing to get up. Linda finally ripped the covers off him.

"Stop lazing around! Get up, we have to go take more pictures."

Kevin sounded weak. "Mommy, I think I have a fever."

Linda felt his forehead. It was definitely hot.

"It's okay. You'll feel better after some medicine."

She assumed he'd just caught a chill and mixed up some children's fever reducer.

She had no idea his symptoms were from the leech's mouthparts still embedded in his skin, causing a nasty infection.

If they'd gone to the hospital right then, Kevin probably wouldn't have gotten so serious.

But the whole family dismissed it, bundled him up, and drove him right back to that lake in the hills.

Kevin stood in the water again, striking poses as Linda directed.

Suddenly,he wobbled, lost his balance, and pitched face-first into the water.