Ethan grabbed my neck, pinning me to the
cold tile floor. I shook my head, choking.
“I didn’t do it.”
Ethan didn’t listen.
He dragged me to Chloe’s feet, holding her
close.
“What do you want her to do to make it up to
you?”
く
Chloe looked up at him, her eyes falling on
the necklace around my neck. She smiled.
“Just give me the necklace, and I’ll forgive
her.”
It was the only thing my mother left me. Ethan
knew that.
I shook my head, tears falling on the floor.
“No, Ethan. That’s from my mom.”
Ethan hesitated, but then Chloe grabbed his
hand, crying.
“But she was my mom, too. I want to feel
loved by her, too.”
I finally couldn’t stand her anymore. “You’re
the one who killed her.”
[Smack!]
I couldn’t believe it.
Ethan’s eyes were filled with ice.
“Lily, I’ve let you get away with too much.
Give her the necklace.”
“Or you’re not my sister anymore.”
If only you could trust me half as much.
I laughed, a bitter sound. Fine. If that’s how it
was, I didn’t need him as a brother anymore.
It was time for me to leave.
I struggled to my feet and walked away.
The next day, I didn’t go to the wedding.
Instead, I erased every trace of myself.
In the house I’d lived in for five years, I left
three things.
A USB drive with a recording of what
happened in the hospital.
My mother’s accident report.
And one last goodbye.
[Ethan, I hope we never see each other
again.]
After writing it, I picked up my suitcase and
took one last look at the house
Ethan, goodbye.
Chapter 2
As the plane climbed into the sky, I felt like a
bird taking flight, floating on the wind.
I imagined myself lying on soft, puffy clouds,
scattering them across the horizon. Maybe I’d
meet other birds, and we’d fly side by side.
I’d never felt so free. I closed my eyes and let
the feeling wash over me.
Finally, the plane landed. I’d reached my
destination: Paris.
I’d studied fashion design in college.
My professor had always wanted me to come
to Paris.
く
She said I had a gift for it.
But I’d turned her down for Ethan.
She was disappointed, but when she heard I
was finally coming, she came to meet me at
the airport.
She was wearing a bright yellow dress with
green accents.
I knew it was one of her designs.
Unique and eye–catching.
I ran and hugged her.
She sighed, patting my back. She seemed
stern, but her voice was gentle.
く
“It’s okay. You’re here now. I’m here for you.”
I nodded, holding her tight.
“You must be hungry. Let’s get something to
eat.”
I laughed. She hadn’t changed a bit.
After my mom died, I was always sad. My
professor noticed and started bringing me
home for dinner every night.
She didn’t say a lot of pretty words, but she
was kind.
That’s when I learned she was a single mom,
too.
When she was young, her parents pushed her
into marrying someone she didn’t love. She
had a daughter.
But her husband was abusive and even sold
their baby.
Her parents told her to stay with him, but she
divorced him and used the evidence she’d
gathered to send him to prison for
kidnapping.
She was twenty–three years old.
