I remembered when we were kids, and our
teacher gave him two of his favorite candies
as a prize.
He really wanted them, but he didn’t eat a
single one. He saved them both for me.
He always came to me with everything he
had.
I choked up a little.
“Yes,” I said.
Love is this abstract thing, I tried to catch it,
but it left me broken.
I was ready…
I was ready to just be by myself.
But my grandma’s dying wish was to see me
get married, to know that someone would
have my back from then on.
Ryan wasn’t that someone.
<
But if the groom was Sam… I think my
grandma would be happy.
Sam sounded so relieved.
“I’ll finish up some work, and I’ll be back to
marry you in two weeks.”
“Chloe, you’ll wait for me, right? You won’t
change your mind?”
He sounded a little insecure, and I
remembered when I promised to be his bride
when we were little.
“Yes,” I said.
I suddenly felt like crying.
“Sam pinky promise?”
<
“Sam, pinky promise?”
Chapter 2
After I hung up, my mom came into my room.
“Where’s the sapphire necklace your father
left you before he died?”
I didn’t answer.
My mom frowned. “What’s with the attitude?
Your sister just thinks it’s pretty and wants to
wear it for a couple of days. Just give it to
her. Don’t be so stingy.”
Tiffany looped her arm through my mom’s
and said sadly, “Never mind, Mom. My sister
never sees me as a real sister anyway. It’s
akoy Iwon’t fore
L
“She wouldn’t dare not see you as family!
That necklace was my husband’s, and it was
your dad’s, too. Today, I’m deciding that it’s
yours.
My mom hugged Tiffany and looked at me
sternly. “If you don’t give it up, I’m going to
have someone search your room.”
I stared at her, and I smiled, but it was a sad
smile.
The mom who used to be so kind and gentle.
In my memories, she’d turned into this bitter
person.
But I was leaving soon.
I didn’t want to fight with her anymore.
<
I gave her the necklace from the box.
My mom smiled. “That’s the way to do it.
Tiffany’s your sister. You should let her have
the good stuff.”
After my mom left, Tiffany put the necklace
on right in front of me.
“Don’t be mad, Chloe. To be honest, the
necklace looks better on me.”
“Just like Ryan is better as my boyfriend.”
“What’s mine is mine. No one else is going to
have it.”
I didn’t say anything.
If you pay someone like her any attention,
<
she’ll never stop.
I grabbed my purse and walked out, acting
like she wasn’t there.
“Ah! Chloe, why did you push me…?”
Tiffany suddenly jumped in front of me and
pretended I pushed her. She stumbled
towards the stairs.
I hated her, but I still reached out to grab her.
There were twenty stairs there, and falling
down them wasn’t a joke.
“Chloe, you witch!”
Ryan ripped my hand off Tiffany’s arm.
The back of my hand hit the handrail.
I winced at the sudden, sharp pain.
“Ryan, I’m so glad you got here in time, or
else I…”
Tiffany hid in Ryan’s arms, crying.
“It’s okay, baby. I’m here,” Ryan said, stroking
Tiffany’s hair. “I won’t let anyone hurt you.”
I looked at my hand, which was broken and
starting to swell.
