When the wind stops, true feelings
remain.
I was diagnosed with cancer the day I was
assaulted.
I was left battered and bruised.
The police told me to call my family.
My parents, frantic, said they were visiting
friends out of town but would rush back.
My older brothers, Mark and David, said they
were on their way.
But I waited at the station all day, and only
Mark showed up.
He put his coat around me, his eyes full of
concern.
<
“Sarah, I’m so sorry. If it weren’t for Lisa
being sick, I wouldn’t have let you go to that meeting alone. This wouldn’t have happened.
I
I’ll make it up to you, I promise.”
His phone rang, and he rushed outside.
I followed.
“Mom, this is insane. Just to keep Sarah
away from Jessica’s adoption party? This is
too much.‘
99
At the same time, a photo flashed in our family group chat, quickly deleted, but I saw
- it.
Jessica, in a beautiful dress, posing with my
family, her arm linked with my fiancé,
Michael’s.
I froze. My own family had set me up.
All because I objected to them adopting
Jessica.
I laughed, a hollow sound.
I’m dying anyway. What’s the point of
fighting?
1
Mark hung up and dialed another number, his
voice laced with anger.
“Who told you to actually hurt her? You’re
not getting the rest of your money!”
“What? You want more? You’ve got to be
kidding me! I’ll have you all arrested!”
<
He slammed his fist against the doorframe
after hanging up.
Seeing his red–rimmed eyes, I turned and
walked back inside.
He followed me in, asking the officer, “Are
there any security cameras where it
happened?”
The officer looked up, confused.
“Your sister just dropped the charges. Do you
want to reopen the case?”
Mark whipped around to look at me.
All he saw was my faint smile.
“It’s okay, Mark. I don’t want this to get out.
I’m not even married yet.”
His eyes welled up, and he hugged me.
“Sarah, I’m so sorry.”
I didn’t care about my reputation.
I just didn’t want Mark to get in trouble if
those guys were caught.
He was the only one who had ever truly cared
for me.
Before Jessica, Mark, David, and even Dad
had treated me like a princess.
They’d always defended me against Mom’s
harsh words.
<
But everything changed when Jessica arrived.
Mark drove me home.
Everyone was waiting in the living room, their
fancy clothes replaced by casual wear.
Mom rushed to me, crying.
If it weren’t for her usual coldness, I might
have believed she actually cared.
“Sarah, honey, I feel so terrible.”
David chimed in, “Sarah, I heard you dropped
the charges. Are you sure you don’t want to
press charges?”
His tone was probing. They all knew.
I nodded.
Dad emerged from behind Mom, his voice
hesitant.
“Sarah, you must be hungry after all this. I’ll
make you some noodles.‘
“”
I hadn’t cried until that moment.
His genuine concern broke me.
I started to move toward him, but Mom’s
sharp voice stopped me.
“Always with the food! You’re such a
glutton!”
Dad recoiled, muttering, “I’ll…I’ll warm you
some milk. Get some rest.
“”
Dad was always under Mom’s thumb. He
must have protested their plan to hurt me, but
his timid nature held him back.
I gestured for everyone to sit down.
I needed to tell them about the cancer.
“I won’t be able to manage the company
anymore. I have…”
W
Jessica cut me off, looping her arm through
mine.
“Sarah, I just graduated. Mom said I could
help out at the company. Don’t worry, I’ll take
good care of things. You just focus on getting
better.”
I subtly pulled my arm away.
“The company…‘
“”
Mom interrupted again.
“Jessica calls me ‘Mom‘ now. Don’t read into
it, Sarah. Just rest. Your brother and Jessica
will handle the company.”
I couldn’t even finish a sentence.
What was I expecting?
“Okay.”
