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