“Sarah, I was wrong. I shouldn’t have treated
you that way. Just don’t go. We’ll sign the
house over to you tomorrow, okay?”
I looked at them. I was sad. How could I not
be?
If they’d treated me like this even once in the
last ten years, I wouldn’t have given up.
<
I wanted a little love. That’s all.
But it was too late.
I stood there, watching them try to, show me
how much they cared.
I didn’t take anything, and I didn’t say
anything.
They owed me this. Now we were even.
When they were done talking, I took out my
bank card.
“I saved about $2,000 this summer. And I
didn’t touch the $50,000 Dad gave me. I’m
<
giving it all back.”
“Starting today, I’m done with you. As soon
as I pay you back, we’ll be even. I don’t want
anything to do with you.”
“Sign the papers. I can’t breathe in this
house!”
Dad and my brother just stared at me.
We stood there for a while, no one saying
anything.
Then Ashley got up. We didn’t see her move.
She grabbed a knife from the kitchen and
<
held it to her throat.
She was crying so hard she could barely
breathe.
“It’s all my fault! Sarah hates me! That’s why
she’s leaving! I should just die!”
I rolled my eyes. This wasn’t the first time
she’d threatened to kill herself. Every time
she did, I got punished.
But this time, Dad and my brother didn’t rush
to her. Instead, they yelled at her.
CC
‘Ashley, Sarah is about to cut ties with us,
and you’re pulling this crap? What’s wrong
<
with you?” Dad asked.
“If you want to die, go do it outside. Don’t
make Sarah look at that!” My brother said.
Ashley looked shocked. She was so upset,
she was shaking.
She pressed the knife harder against her
throat. It cut her, leaving a thin line of blood.
She looked at me, full of hate.
“It’s all your fault! You just want Dad and my
brother to kick me out! Well, it’s not going to
happen!”
く
“This is my house! Dad and my brother are
mine! You’re the one who has to leave!”
She screamed and charged at me, holding the
knife.
I screamed and dodged the knife, but Dad
hugged me, using his body as a shield.
I heard a wet thunk. The knife went into
Dad’s back.
He smiled at me, like he didn’t feel anything.
“Can you forgive me now, Sarah?”
I looked at his face, getting pale. I shook my
head.
This was the result of them babying Ashley. It
had nothing to do with me.
And I wasn’t going to forgive them just
because he got stabbed.
People have to pay for their choices. Even if
it’s unfair.
I pushed him away and called 911. Then I
called the police.
My brother was staring at the wall in despair.
He helped Dad to the couch.
<
I turned around and walked out, leaving
Ashley screaming.
- 9.
My brother came to see me once and gave
me the signed paperwork.
He told me Dad was okay. He was resting at
home.
Ashley was in jail, charged with assault. Dad
wouldn’t sign anything to get her out. She
might go to prison.
But it didn’t matter to me. I didn’t care.
く
My brother saw that I wasn’t going to change
my mind, and he stopped talking.
As I turned to leave, he called out my name.
“Sarah, we really messed up. Can you forgive
us? Can we be a family again when you get
back?”
I shook my head.
It was too late.
He looked sad, but he didn’t try to stop me.
Three days later, I got on a plane.
<
Ms. Jenkins came to see me off at the
airport.
I hugged her, smiling, and told her that I’d
never forget her.
As I walked to the gate, I saw my brother and
Dad, hiding in the crowd. Dad was leaning on
my brother.
They looked so sad, like they’d never done
anything wrong.
I looked away.
I didn’t look back.
<
As I walked to the gate, I saw my brother and
Dad, hiding in the crowd. Dad was leaning on
my brother.
They looked so sad, like they’d never done
anything wrong.
I looked away.
I didn’t look back.
I didn’t need to.
Everything in the past was gone.
My future was waiting for me. And they were
better off forgotten.
