I said nothing and watched as she cheerfully headed to the kitchen. It did not matter—once I got into college, I would leave anyway.
…
Soon, I married Quinn.
The day when he brought the fruit to my mom, it was to formally propose. The wedding was rushed, but every necessary ritual was properly observed.
I sent invitations to both Sadie and Henry, but neither of them attended.
During the reception, my mother-in-law, Jill Appleton, suddenly asked me to honor the family tradition by kneeling and bowing to their ancestors.
It reminded me of Sadie’s stories about her in-laws creating unnecessary hurdles for her. I hesitated, but chose to go along with it.
I knelt and lowered my head three times, trying to appear composed, even though my knees ached on the hardwood floor.
Jill laughed softly at my seriousness. She then leaned forward with a warm smile and clasped a delicate emerald bracelet around my wrist.
What?
Was this the “deliberate humiliation” Sadie had complained about?
I looked at the verdant bracelet, and there was a mix of emotions stirring in my heart.
Quinn took my hand and said softly, “Since Mom gave it to you, just accept it.”
After the guests left and the house quieted down, I sat on the wooden bed, feeling a rare sense of shyness.
It was absurd to think about, but Henry barely touched me anymore after my miscarriage. The few times he did, he would sit against the headboard afterward, smoking silently for what felt like hours.
I only learned after my death that the miscarriage had been caused by medicine Sadie gave me—something to “improve blood circulation”.
Quinn came out of the bathroom, now in his pajamas while holding a towel. He walked over to me and gently began wiping my hands.
