3
The house was empty when I woke up.
Jessica’s Instagram showed them at a fancy
brunch.
A photo captioned: Family time is the best
time.
They’d forgotten me.
The doorbell rang.
Michael stood there with flowers.
“Sarah, you look terrible.‘
“”
“We broke up. What are you doing here?”
He stared at me, his voice trembling.
“Were you…really assaulted?”
I thought I was prepared.
But hearing him ask, I started shaking again.
Jessica’s laughter echoed from outside.
Then, the whole family walked in.
Jessica snatched the flowers.
“Michael, you’re so sweet! You know I love
tulips.”
Michael’s hand froze, his eyes still on me.
I forced a smile.
“Yes, Michael brought them for you.
وو
I turned to go upstairs, but Dad stopped me.
He held out a bag.
“Sarah, I brought you some brunch.”
Mom shrieked, “Takeout from a place like
that? How embarrassing! Have you no
shame?”
Dad flinched, dropping the bag.
Shrimp dumplings spilled out.
Jessica chimed in, “Seriously, Dad. That’s so
tacky.”
I looked at my dejected father, then bent
down and picked up a dusty dumpling,
popping it in my mouth.
“Delicious. Thanks, Dad.”
Michael’s face darkened. He stepped towards
- me.
“You all went out to brunch and left Sarah
here alone?”
He grabbed the tulips from Jessica and thrust
them at me.
“These are for you. Sarah. I thought about it
all night. Even if you are as spiteful as they
say, or if you were…assaulted…I’m not
leaving you.”
Jessica burst into tears, clinging to Mom.
Mom glared at Michael.
“You can’t give something away and then
take it back.”
وو
Jessica sobbed, “Mom, it’s not Michael’s
fault. I’m just so touched. Sarah was…
violated by so many men, and he’s still here
for her.‘
99
Michael’s eyes widened.
“So many men? What does that mean?”
He turned to Mark, grabbing his shirt.
“You said she was lying!”
Mark looked down, his face contorted in pain.
“We thought she was…but she wasn’t…”
Jessica added fuel to the fire.
وو
“It was awful. Five or six men. They said…she
was torn…
“”
I screamed.
“Stop it! Just stop! Why do you keep hurting
me?”
“Michael, I wanted to break up with you
anyway. We’ve been together for years. It’s
like kissing my own hand. I’m bored!”
“I’m the CEO now, and you’re still a
struggling artist. You’re not good enough for me! Get out! I don’t want to see you again!”
I ran to my room, collapsing inside.
The words I’d just spoken felt like knives in
my heart.
I wanted to run into Michael’s arms, tell him.
everything.
But I didn’t have time.
