- 5.
Sophomore year.
Sarah was failing so many classes she was
facing expulsion.
My parents rushed to the college, pulling
strings.
They learned that a research project could
save her, guarantee her graduation.
And I had a research project.
Their eyes turned to me once again.
“Ashley,” Dad said, all pretense of guilt gone.
“Your sister needs this project to graduate.
You should let her have it.”
Mom said nothing, her eyes devoid of any
warmth.
Ever since I played that recording, exposed
their hypocrisy, they’d dropped the act.
It was better this way.
No more moral posturing.
No more being cast as the villain.
They were finally being honest: their
<
favoritism towards Sarah was the real evil all
along.
Now, their demands were blunt.
Just like the fact that I hadn’t received a
phone call, a visit, or a dime of allowance in
over a year.
“Okay,” I said. “Sarah can have the project.”
I handed over the completed research paper.
My parents gave it straight to Sarah.
That night, another Instagram post, another
picture of Sarah with Mom and Dad.
Chapter 2
The caption read: “So blessed to have my
parents! #familydinner #love”
“Ashley, whatcha lookin‘ at? Your eyes are all
red.”
My classmate, Chris, sat beside me, glancing
at the cracked screen of my phone.
“Who’s that? She’s pretty.”
I sniffed. “My sister. Sarah.”
He chuckled. “Just your parents and Sarah in
the pic. You the photographer?”
I shook my head. “No. They didn’t invite me
to dinner.
He stared. “You’re kidding, right? Your
parents? Your own sister?”
I just nodded.
He shifted awkwardly. “Okay, okay, I get it,
you’re the neglected little sis. C’mon, I’ll buy
you dinner.”
He slung an arm around my shoulder.
I subtly shrugged him off. “Nah, you go
ahead.”
He frowned. “Seriously, Ashley? I’ve been
chasing you for a year! Am I not cute.
enough? What’s the deal?”
He seemed annoyed, but quickly plastered on
a goofy grin.
“Alright, alright, fine. Doesn’t mean I’ll stop
<
trying. I’ll keep at it till you say yes.
He hadn’t met Sarah yet.
وو
That’s why he could be so confident.
I sighed, sending him Sarah’s Instagram
handle.
“Follow my sister. Maybe she can give you
some insight into me.”
I walked away.
He stood there, confused.
But that night, he came back.
He hugged me, his eyes full of sympathy.
“Ashley, let me take care of you.”
“My poor Ashley, you’ve been through so
much. Knowing your past just makes me love
you more.”
“Your parents may not love you, but I do! I always will!”
Sarah was such a sweet, understanding angel.
Of course, she’d poured her heart out to
Chris, telling him everything.
<
Including how guilty she felt for me, how
much she worried about me, how much she
cared.
Chris’s heartfelt words washed over me.
Last time, they would have been intoxicating.
This time, they were just… flat.
Because I knew he’d betray me.
He’d fall head over heels for Sarah.
And then he’d criticize me, dissect all my
flaws.
His love, under Sarah’s innocent glow, would
turn pale and insignificant.
“Chris,” I said. “Let’s make a deal.”
He looked at me, eyes shining.
“Buy my sister breakfast for six months. If
you can do that, we’ll date.”
He laughed. “Why your sister? Shouldn’t I be
buying you breakfast? She already gets
enough attention!”
I forced a smile.
I wondered the same thing.
Why, when Sarah already had so much love,
did people keep giving her more?
Chris knew I meant what I said.
He reluctantly agreed.
As he left, he declared, “Six months, Ashley!
Then you’re mine!”
I nodded, unfazed.
Chris didn’t know that the moment he
followed Sarah, she’d messaged me.
She told me she’d had a crush on Chris for
ages.
She asked me to give him to her.
I’d given Sarah so much under our parents‘
pressure.
This was the first time she’d asked me for
something directly.
“Okay,” I said. “I’ll give him to you. How do
you want me to do it?”
My ever–so–fragile sister outlined the
く
breakfast plan.
