A Love That Never Was

Cheslie. Beverly, nursing a slight headache, felt a flicker of something unsettling. Guilt, pe

ate, piled it with Jetta's leftover salmon, and covered it with cling wrap. "See? I still care. We'

od. The ultimate gesture of familial affection. But I was beyond hunger, beyond hum

she's just... out there?" he asked, a hint of unease in his voice. "Maybe I

. She had just come downstairs, her face pale. She clutched h

e, Beverly, even Hayden, who see

verly cried, her voice laced with p

s eyes filled with genuine concern.

hen... this was on the counter. It... it cut me!" She pointed a trembling finger at a small, in

she insisted on keeping." Her eyes narrowed. "She

a 'gift' for my graduation. I thought she was finally being nice." Her voice was a soft sob,

tried to harm her sister! On Jetta's graduation day! This is beyond unacceptable!" He slammed his fist

just to be sure," Camden said, hesitatin

n. "Don't leave me, Camden. It hurts so much. What if she's still lurking, waiting

rness. They always jumped to the worst possible conclusion about me. Always.

sations against me. My spirit was left alone in the quiet kitchen, the untouched plate of salmon a lonely sen

She had been with the family for decades, a silent observer of our fractured dynamics. She had seen my struggles, my quiet resilience. "Why did

ear the cold metal table. My eyes, though they saw nothing tangible, focused o

sation. My childhood flashed before my eyes, a se

before the elders, their innate gift revealed. Camden, at five, had effortlessly commanded metal, twisting

ty to soothe injuries, to accelerate healing with a mere touch. Beverly had

. My gift, when it finally manifested, was subtle. I could perceive the intricate structures of living cells, the hidden lang

ared his throat. "Interesting, Cheslie," he'd said, his voice de

etta had the best tutors, the most cutting-edge equipment. I had to fight for every research grant, every piece of technology. Even when my insights led to breakthroughs, they were overshadowed, ignor

. A quiet shadow, easily fo