“Did Melissa contact you? Her landlord just called me and said she hadn’t paid her rent for over a week. They haven’t been able to get in touch with her. Plus, she hasn’t been home.”
Tears filled my eyes as I heard those words.
It was Dad.
Although he hadn’t forgiven me all these years, some part deep inside of him seemed to be still worried about me.
However, my mother sneered and spat, “What’s that got to do with me? It’s none of my business whether she sleeps on the street or not.”
My dad fell silent when he heard the hatred in her tone. Then, he paused for a moment before saying, “I’ve already paid her rent. Let’s check on her this week.”
“Why? I told you she has nothing to do with us anymore!”
My dad sighed and replied, “She’s still our daughter.”
His words seemed to have triggered my mother as her expression darkened. “What about Vanessa then? Is she not your daughter? Are you feeling sympathy for that murderer?”
Her words tore my heart apart.
It didn’t matter how many times I explained that it wasn’t me who killed Vanessa, as my mother had never believed me.
My dad seemed to want to say more, but she cut him off.
“I’m telling you. I will never be at peace as long as she lives. If you pay her rent again, we’re getting a divorce!” Then, she hung up angrily.
Angel squeezed her hand and comforted her, “It’s been years, Mom. Don’t be sad. She may be a terrible person, but I don’t hate her. After all, she’s still my sister.”
When my mother heard her words, her expression softened. Then, she hugged Angel and sobbed.
“You’re so kind. I’m afraid people like Melissa will hurt you one day. Just knowing that she’s out there and could hurt you makes me feel like I have failed my job as a mother. I should’ve put her in jail myself. That’s why I became a journalist. I want to protect you.”
The sting in my eyes became sharper, and tears blurred my vision.
She had only protected Angel right from the start and never once tried to save me from despair. When I was eight, she even made me a headline and labeled me as a heartless monster, putting me through endless online abuse and bullying.
Still, I suppose she would be happy now that I was dead. No one could hurt her precious Angel anymore.
