Dead Stepbrother Came back

ful as a flower, had passed away, and

a mountain of debt and Jeremy Fowler, a

, whimpering that he was easy to support and c

r-filled eyes only me

.

mother's ashes which were w

ome cost three thousand, and I had no

oadside tree, thinking at least

, watching as I sc

od at the door, hesitant

he bit his lower lip, struggling to hold back tears

sighed, pac

ay off debts. Even if I didn't

mpensation money, and the proceeds from the sal

and in parks. With him, at least

in the same city, and public pressure forced them to give us

I sent Jeremy to school si

for prestigious universities. The school knew about my family's situation, waive

art-time in restaurants. His health

cooking, cleaning, laundry. Though the

it was the best I ha

d from school. As long as I got into college, applied for scholarships

und me, saying he had fainted

.

t woman had been p

ol to work and raise medical funds, but he couldn't save my stepmother. Lat

r needed a suitable bone

quired money,

Let's go home. I want to go home." His moist beautiful

acing illness and death-ho

ugh it. I held his cold hands, "Don't be afraid. I

, I wouldn't g

all I

ion stabilized,

lf-study anymore. Except for cl

stores, sold clothes, and even carried cement at cons

o took on some part-time jobs, but I only

and though life was h

ht vegetables at the market, the vendors

vegetables were cheaper than in the morning. Occasionally, he w

shared e

his hair thinner and added to the woes

more money to ens

hostess, as I heard it could earn tens of thousands a month

wever, he allowed me to work as a waitress, and the hourly

o classmates from my school at the bar,

was nothing to

.

xclusive and upscal

art-time job at a restauran

the manager assigned me to serve

bad habits, knowing I was still a high school stu

eir kindness

wenty thousand and a platter of fruit, I pu

room seemed to belong to a

ds I couldn't recognize, squand

antly in the air, and the rich fr

atter on the table, just abou

school?" Under the flickering lights

my school, even i

Fowler, ranked second and third in our grade. Their name

Robertson family was the wealthiest in ou

gend, except he neve

hool uniform for a red spaghetti strap dress, alluring y

mates, they might buy a few more bottles of win

ecause of me, they seemed to have disco

vain?" A sharp voice pierced through the lowered musi

replied, expressionl

o be a hostess, but

urious and disdainful of me, the e

d to see what I re

s I fell, I clung tightl

my brother wo

n stood up from the main seat and wa

d at Sylvia behind him. Her gaze was

bottle and sto

le voice sounded above me, mingled

ort!" I turned to face him, and th

s won't allow it. I just rushed over from a dishwashing job, which pays ten dollars an hour. The bar pays much more, so I work here at night. Be

ottle I was holding and p

ich kids silen

tstaff. I heard Tristan ordered the most expensive wine in

e first time someone had tak

my commission into my bra and rode home on a c

ell cut through the

ilding, there was only a l

door to find Jeremy

t on for me, despite my repea

alone late at night, the thought of that light left on for m

." The boy, slender as a reed, was gent

in your backpack. The wind will be strong, so wear that red jacket with the hoo

of me, down to the smallest detail

window was dispelled

he notion of home

ong; he would soon go f

l was chem

urled on the bed, occupy

t rolled off

his thin arm, blue veins protruding, and on

ealized I

need self-awareness, instea

people, could it really not a

ital for long. Each bill ur

moon was shrouded in a thick

help!" A clamor of voi

help

.

isinfectant in the hospital

is large, how mu

notice the IV in my ha

girl rushed in from the door,

. I didn't know her, but I c

me? Laura? I'm Vict

, she was anxiously and fearfu

gh Victoria's tear-filled e

memories were stuck a

ing with Tristan. But the groom left

mpleting the ceremony a

tairs, fell, and was brought

e doctor said it might be due to

ling when my mem

transported nine years into the future, whether I married Tr