Married By My Father's Debt

at taps against the windows. The house felt cold and big. Th

n minutes before I went in. I did not want to go

back from the desk just like he always left it. One of his reading glasses sat beside a doc

. Dead people are not supposed to leave rooms looking like they are still alive. They are not supposed to leave coffee cups

eet. For a second I almost turned around. Freya needed to be s

eyes burned from reading much these past few days. Every paper looked the same. Numbers, debts, signature

a had stayed home often. Maybe if Freya had listened better. My thoughts kept going in circles until I

hing. Pens, receipts, keys. I sighed tiredly. I leaned back in the chair rubbing my forehead. My eyes looked

be grief makes people feel dramatic. Maybe pain makes things feel like warnings. I pulled one book out. No

reya. Just that. No "my daughter." No long speech. Just my name in Dads

hands. Maybe because of fear. Maybe anger. Maybe both. I opened it carefully. Inside was a fol

God, Dad why now? Why leave explanations after dying? Why not talk to me when you we

beside the bookshelf because my legs felt weak. Rain tapped harder against the windows now. I know you are angry with me the lett

mean? My eyes rushed down the page now. The company debts became worse than Dad allowed anyone to know. He borrowed money trying

He knew everything was collapsing and still smiled every morning like nothing was w

uly believed he could save us before the deadline came. Life does not always give chances. I stopped

er. You are my daughter before anything. My lips trembled badly after reading that line. Then why did you do it? W

because he was desperate. Because he was scared. Because he was drowning. The anger inside me cracked a

stantly. She is still young. She pretends to be stronger than she is. Do not let this situation destroy both

d my head staring blankly at the floor while memories flooded my mind at once. Dad teaches Amelia mathematics at the dining table. Dad yelled at me for sneaking

the time since his death I cried properly. Not the quiet tears at the hospital. Not the numb crying duri

He left us trying to save us. Somehow that made everything worse. I stayed there on

Small. I quickly wiped my face. It was useless. My eyes probably looked terrible. She notic

I watched her expression change. Confusion. Shock. Sadness. Then silence. Long silence. Fin

ed her head against my shoulder quietly. "What are we going to do?" she asked after

was still that stranger from the café stuck in my head for no reason. His smile flashed acros

at face?" "That face you make when you're thinking a lot." I almost laughed. Almo

marry the prince?" The question sat ugly inside the room. I looked down at the letter again

een the people they love and trying to survive. Maybe my dad hoped something would change before

th the letter my dad wrote. It was a folded piece of paper. My eyebrows

ence written on it. It said, "Do not trust everyone inside the palace."

n I thought. Who, inside the palace should I not trust? Is it the king? Is it the pri

simple and shor

ed my arm al

." she s

I ask

y dad was trying to wa

down my spine as I th

e heavier now. It was hitt

about the marriage and the debt and

to me anymore bec

od up

air," I sai

said

d to think about the wa

y away before Amelia cou

enly felt too na

tight as I thought

y head as I thought about the mar

balcony. Inh

ace instantly as I l

ndlessly ahead. They were a

nd the warning note as I

not trust everyone

peated over in my head as I

iage no longer felt like a

dangerous becaus

died I became truly afraid

vibrated ins

tely as I wondere

umber I di

opped as I look

f steadily as I stared at the scr

vibrating as

ote again. It said do not trus

t the phone as I tho

lowly toward th

t the call ended and the