The Woman He Almost Killed Lives

Bridge

I sat at the grand dining table, picking at my food, every bite tasting like ash. My father, seated at the head, reg

omed, raising his glass. "And August, you've chos

d an opportunity to subtly, or not so subtly, remind me of my supposed failures. My existen

y of it all. Without a word, I pushed back my chair, scraping it loudly against the p

t as I had left it years ago, untouched, a museum of my childhood. I sank onto the windo

head in, her smile still unnervingly sweet. "Allie, d

tory gleam in her eyes. "I'm fine, Caroline," I said, my voice flat,

e like that. We're family. You should be happy for us. For me and August." She sat beside me,

o 'cold' for you, remember? Too 'emotionally distant.' Funny how

before it was swiftly replaced by a pout. "Allie, don't be bitter. Ju

t 'keep' him, Caroline. I loved him. You just took him back after h

jealous. Always have been. My mo

s' marriage? Envied the girl who stole my father's affection? Envied the girl who now steals

she lunged at me, her hand striking my cheek

her back, hard. She stumbled, falling against the vanity t

tching her arm. "Oh, my God! My arm!

stepmother right behind him. August's eyes immediately went to Caroline, who was now sobbing d

August rushed to her side,

ways hated me!" Caroline wailed,

hrieked, rushing to Caroline's other side, cr

en ask. He raised his hand, and a sharp, stingi

ng with a hatred that chilled me to the bone. "How dare you

my vision. My father had never hit me before. Not like this. The raw injustice of it, the abso

older than I had ever seen them. "Allie, what is wrong

line, August! Ever since they were little! Caroline's al

him with tear-filled eyes. "I think... I think she's

ealth issues? What are you

den you. But Caroline... she's been so brave. She was recently diagnosed with a very rare form of aplastic an

lity, was faking a life-threatening illness. The sheer audacit

, suddenly gasped, her eyes rolling back

anic. He lifted her easily, her light form cradled against hi

e a mask of terror. My father and stepmother followed, yelling for the car,

old, sliced through the hallway. He was talking to me

him. Why? Why woul

gleaming with a disturbing calculation. "And they'll need

b being led to the slaughter, completely powerless, caught in a web of their

tically in the waiting room, his face pale with worry. My father and stepmother sat beside him, off

he needs a blood transfusion immediately. Her blood co

ically. "Oh, doctor! We're

and Mrs. Pate now. In the meantime, is there a

hard knot formed in my stomac

lingering tenderness, replaced by a desperate, almost feral intensity. "Allie.

emanding. And for the first time, I felt not just heartbreak, but pure, unadulterated fear. My life