- 6.
Dad and my brother froze. They looked at the
bloody necklace, and they seemed to
remember how much it meant to me. For a
Join the bookshelf
<
second, they looked ashamed.
Dad turned around and grabbed a paper bag
from the living room. He gave it to me.
“Your mom asked me to buy you this gold
locket when you turned eighteen, to celebrate
you being an adult. I bought it. It’s supposed
to make up for your loses.”
“Let’s just forget about it.”
I stared at them, speechless.
So they did know my mom wanted them to
take care of me.
く
I took the paper bag and tossed it in the
trash.
“Keep your money. I don’t want it.
“I want her to say sorry.”
My brother lost it.
“Sarah, don’t be an idiot! Do you know how
much that locket cost? Ashley liked it, so we
got it. What do you need a broken necklace.”
“If you don’t apologize, get out of this house.
You don’t get to make the rules here!”
Dad tried to roooon with mo
く
Dad tried to reason with me.
“Ashley’s had a hard life, Sarah. She’s not as
mature as you. Just let it go.”
“I’ll buy you a new necklace when i see a nice
one, okay? And, your allowance will be $2,000
next semester. How about that?”
“You shouldn’t have hit your sister. She’s
really upset.”
I laughed, a hollow, bitter sound.
“Right, Ashley is always right. So it’s always
my fault.”
“Vou can ann that I’m hurt Vou
that
く
“You can see that I’m hurt. You can see that
she broke my mom’s necklace. But you still
think I’m wrong.”
“You’ve already picked sides.”
“Fine. I’ll do what you want. I’ll apologize to
Ashley.
I stood up, holding onto the wall for balance,
and bowed to Ashley.
“I’m sorry. I was wrong. I shouldn’t have hit
you!”
They were too stunned to say anything.
く
I was finished arguing.
But then I saw the door.
And the only way out was to leave.
Dad walked over to me, acting like he’d just
noticed my injuries. He grabbed my hand,
trying to look at my cuts.
He actually looked guilty.
My brother rummaged through the medicine
cabinet and pulled out some cream. He
stammered, “Let me… let me put something
on those cuts. People will think we mistreat
く
you.”
Behind them, Ashley was crying louder.
“If Sarah doesn’t want to forgive me, just
send me back to the farm. I’m happy just
knowing Dad and Sarah love me.”
I smirked. Every time they paid attention to
me, she’d pull this crap. And it always
worked.
But this time, Dad and my brother didn’t rush
to comfort her. They actually glared at her.
“Ashley, Sarah is about to cut ties with us,
and you’re still trying to be the center of
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く
attention? Can’t you see we’re helping your
sister with her cuts?” Dad asked.
I turned away, yanking my hand out of his
grip.
“I’m fine. I don’t need your help.”
I pretended not to notice their hurt
expressions. I went back to my room and started packing.
The necklace was gone. There was nothing left for me here. I was leaving, sooner or later. They wouldn’t care if I stayed or left.
I tore a piece of paper from my notebook and
<
wrote an IOU.
I hadn’t spent much over the years. $10,000
would cover it.
I wrote the amount, put the IOU where they’d
see it, took one last look at the house,
grabbed my suitcase, and walked out.
