Winter's Mate: Fated on Ice

o

as Day was supposed to be a joyous day of people laughing, exchanging gif

my head, still see that video playing

were happy about the snow or not. The chiming sound from the bells and the Christmas lights from

door, and upon seeing me, her mood immediately soured. She scoffe

omfortable and warm, but now it felt so distant and suffocating. Everything felt diffe

erfect twin daughters, side by side, both sm

he was reading a newspaper and my mother beside him. The Chr

distant. And I sat on the edge of the armchai

emoved his reading glasses, then faced me. His expression

you've done?" I flinched

to talk, but nothing came out. My mother glared at me,

yone," she added, her voice rising. "The neighbors, people from church, you

. Everyone was talking about it. Do you know how humiliated I was?" Her

re," my mother said. "How could

e that." I man

's voice boomed out and I

w he was reco

lief as he cut me off. " You

es

to-" She shook her head in disappointment. "You g

just call

now about t

d have bee

I was used! I'm

rage. Before I knew it, she s

ce in shock. They'd never hit me before. Maybe they'd been sav

you better

differently you turned out." He shook his head. "Your sister would never do so

Sophia that planned everything

about your scholarships, your grades. And Sophia's achievements, her beauty, her grace. And now? Now

behind his back. "We

ha

eed to

kicking

represent the family from now on. You've lost that privilege.

our da

e daughter. The one wh

of you. Sophia is everything we hoped fo

grabbed his legs. "Plea

ave thought o

h step felt like a

to the door.

y mom threw my bag at me, and it hit

ore as a daughter. From today on, you are dead t

I stood on the porch, shaking, the snow comi

Even the moon wasn't out to shine light.

shed like the sn

the pouring snow, staring at my parents' house as the li

vious, because I was already covered with snow. My face was white a

nd my cold body and crouched down to my level

rough my chest, that made my whole body shake, tha

en sobs, my words barely coherent. "

I didn't believe her. How cou

r, ushered me inside and turned up the heater, removed

I felt completely empty. Tears had dried on my face. My che