Jason frowned.
His eyes softened a little as he looked at me.
Maybe he’s starting to doubt.
- 3.
Tiffany starts sobbing.
“Jason, don’t fight because of me.”
“It’s okay if Sarah’s mad…”
く
She whimpers like she’s so mistreated.
Jason’s expression hardens again.
“You’re jealous because I like Tiffany.”
“Jealous because I’m good to her.”
“Jealous because everyone loves her.”
“Sarah, you’re not the same anymore.”
“You’re twisted now, aren’t you?”
He scoops Tiffany up and walks out.
Watching them leave, my tears dried up.
Maybe it’s for the best.
L
I’ve cried way too much over Jason already.
I’m never gonna waste another tear on him
again.
That night, the group chat blows up.
Jason posts:
“Suddenly want to get married, what do I do?”
Everyone loses it.
“Jason, you’re finally gonna marry Sarah!”
“Guess we gotta call her ‘wifey‘ now.”
They’re all tagging me.
“Congrats, Sarah! Time for a big payout!”
“Jason, when are you and Sarah gonna throw
the party?”
The chat is going wild.
I was about to tell them to chill.
I’m not gonna be Jason’s wife.
But Jason beats me to it.
“What are you all talking about?”
“I never said I wanted to marry Sarah.”
Then, he adds Tiffany to the group.
Tags everyone.
r
“Pay attention people! Here is your real soon,
to be wife.”
The chat goes silent.
For a long time.
Jason: “Why is no one saying anything?”
“Say hi to your future wife.”
A few people say hi to Tiffany.
I decided to say something.
“Congrats, I wish you both the best.”
Then I left the group.
214
- 4.
Right after I left, Jason called.
“Sarah, get over here NOW.”
“Where?”
“You know where. The old place.”
“What’s up?”
“Apologize to Tiffany.”
“For what?”
“You leaving the group. What are our friends
supposed to think?”
Jason’s voice is harsh and demanding.
く
“I don’t want anyone trash talking Tiffany.”
“I love her, I want to commit to her.”
“She’s innocent, she doesn’t deserve to get
called the other woman because of your
outburst.”
Even though I thought I had finally gotten
control of my emotions.
My chest tightens.
My fingers are shaking as I grip my phone.
My voice is trembling.
“Jason, you can’t do this to me.”
“Why are you treating me like this?”
L
“You were the one who cheated on me. I
didn’t do anything. I even said congrats. Isn’t
that enough?”
I refuse to cry.
But my voice cracks.
He paused for a second.
“Sarah.”
“I’m not gonna press this.”
“But remember. Tiffany is innocent.”
“Don’t take it out on her.”
He hung up.
I sat on the floor, shaking all over.
The picture of my mom on the nightstand
looked at me with kind, loving eyes.
I broke down and hugged the picture frame.
My face pressed to the cold glass.
Tears fell. It was like my mom was crying for
her daughter.
I refused to cry anymore. I don’t want my
mom to be sad.
After her memorial.
I’m going to take everything my mom left me.
E
<
I’m never coming back to D.C.
- 5.
Tiffany moved into my room.
I didn’t go to her room.
I just crashed in one of the guest rooms.
The sheets were freezing and damp.
I just slept in my clothes.
I only have to make it a few more days.
Once I leave, it will all be over.
But the next morning, I woke up to crying and
screaming.
<
As soon as I sat up, someone kicked in my
door.
Stepmom runs in, sobbing. Before I can react,
I get slapped.
“How can you be so cruel?”
“Hurting her wasn’t enough yesterday? Do
you want to kill her?”
Stepmom cried in my dad’s arms. “She knew
that Tiffany was allergic to peaches. She
dumped peach juice all over her bed and
pillow.”
“She wants to kill our daughter!”
“Okay, okay. She took her medicine. She is
fine.”
L
Dad looks disgusted. “Sarah, I am so
disappointed in you.”
“Dad…”
“Sarah, your mom has been dead for a while
now. The living are more important!”
Tiffany says in a weak voice. “Dad, my puppy
must have knocked it over by accident. I
wanted to apologize, but she started hitting
- me. Before I could say anything, she started
hitting me with the vase.”
She holds up her bleeding arm. “Dad, can we
move out of here?”
“Why are you being so stupid?”
Dad glared at me and slapped me so hard
that I fell back.
