19
From the hospital, it was 7pm.
I walked in my room.
The room was a mess.
The book “Alive” was torn.
Jessica’s words were gone.
I grabbed the book, went to Brittany’s room.
She smiled.
“What?”
<
I slapped her.
She held her face, “You hit me?”
“You little b*tch, who do you think you are?”
She cried.
The men came upstairs.
“Ashley, why did you hit Brittany?”
“She made a mistake, but we’re being nice to
you?”
“Be nice, forgive her.”
Brittany cried.
く
I said, “She went in my room, tore my book.”
Dad was shocked.
Kevin said, “You can’t hit people over a
book!”
“Brittany’s your sister, don’t make Mom sad,
and Dad either.”
I shook my head, “Sarah’s not my mom.”
“Brittany’s not my sister.”
Kevin tried to stay calm.
“I’ll say sorry for Brittany, I’ll buy you ten
books, don’t tell Mom, okay?”
Brittany yelled.
“I didn’t mean to tear the book! It was awful.”
“She had a girl write, ‘So lucky to meet you,
so happy I know you‘ It was gross. Is she a
lesbian?”
Sarah came home.
I hit Brittany, and she cried.
“It’s hard being a stepmom! I’m trying to be
nice!”
Cry, that was her weapon.
I wasn’t backing down.
I said, “She called me a b*tch. Did you teach
her that?”
L
Sarah didn’t talk, she cried, and shook her
head.
Dad said, “Your aunt wouldn’t do that.
Brittany’s mad.”
I looked at Sarah.
She knew I hated her.
“Dad! Did you see that? She glared at me! If
she stays, we’re leaving!”
Dad sighed.
Kevin asked, “Ashley, can you go to boarding
school?”
“Before you, we were happy. Now there’s
く
fights. Dad’s tired, we’re all tired.”
“You… maybe we don’t get along.”
“Please?”
I looked at Dad.
He looked down.
I smiled.
“Okay. I’ll move out.”
