na's
p gaspin
of deep water. For a few seconds I couldn't move. My heart
s al
didn't ma
ough my body while Lily smiled down at me. I remembered the cold marble under my ha
ad
certai
was I b
forced my
g I noticed wa
in the city. This one was painted pale blue, with a faint cr
eath
t couldn'
ht, my hands gripping
me looked pain
udy desk besi
helf filled wit
I had always hated but n
egan beati
w thi
om rec
en yea
't possible,
sounded
ft
mach t
d out of bed, nearly tripping over my own feet
t, I was af
myself to r
't the twenty-eight-year-old wom
oked e
y the stress and exhaustion that had marked my
bling hand and
copied the move
rs felt
l s
a dr
halluc
grabbed the edge of t
back?" I
oded my mind
's s
soned c
ng that everything
anger surged t
truste
ecte
so much
illed me with
dug into
a dream...
mething on the de
te en
art s
owly, my stomach tigh
knew wha
ven need t
did
th the official seal o
ptance
I had received
tter I had
began t
is the
ed it perf
iversity admission so L
t accepted anywhere else. My father had asked
had
ing a good sister mea
cision had cha
n, I had spent years
ing mani
erfect, obedient dau
ded she didn't
the door suddenly
ren
oice came fro
e body s
e, hearing that voic
ke?" he aske
allo
es
wnstairs. We need to disc
art d
fer p
uld give my universi
ment my futu
acceptance let
e, I had happily s
was doing th
his t
nger spread th
efully and placed it ba
y father ca
ing," I
e sound
something
or and stepped
actly the same as i
ig
eg
etely suf
owly, memories flashing thr
dining room, everyo
f the table, his usual ster
mother, Margaret, dres
g across f
Li
tened the mom
actly the way
blond
te fea
t made her look in
d knelt beside my dy
me enter, her
" she sa
r voice made my
ng her call me that ha
t made my
id when I sat down.
er across the
e the tran
our place at Westbridge Univers
er nodded a
this opportunity
ad slightly, preten
re you're okay with t
ng was f
hink she truly felt bad
new bet
the folde
exactly the sam
ded was my
e signa
e would disa
waited
looked i
her looked
looked
ed the
t signi
s came o
the room like
my fathe
aze without
I won't
at followed wa
ace turn
.?" she w
directl
fe, I allowed myself to feel th
your own future
mmed his hand
onsense are you
stoo
remaine
ng to un
expression twi
g this family ha
t all thre
t time, I truly
ad sacrificed
had never onc
sacrificin
d walked out of
e, chaos
dn't sto
e this
to give my li
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