The Scapegoat Daughter

. He just used a hurricane

ight years too late, a

the eighth anniversary of the day Ethan was supposedly swe

rthdays before it. With my moth

. It's time fo

She used to be a vibrant New Orleans socialite, but now she

e. He was a high-ranking detective in the NOPD, a man who hunted monsters for a li

year," I said, my

ill go to that shelter and you will think abo

g brother at my swim meet. I cried on the phone, begging him to come

room like a razor. He didn't even look at me.

threw a plate of toast against the wall. My father s

ful, selfish child

ally looking at me with pure disgust. "Just

s fiancée. The one th

My best friend Olivia was waiting for me at our dorm. We were going to

e expensive perfume atomizer in my hand. He had given it to me for

toy will save you from yo

desk and thrown it against the wall. "A useless, expensive toy," he'd calle

ouisiana air was thick and heavy. I started

en parked across the street. It star

omizer, my thumb fumbling for the tri

llowing me.

e to my

e, hel

ig, and his eyes were empty. I knew who he was. The Cypress

mizer and press

ng ha

rack my father had made

smiled.

hand clamped over my mouth. I saw my phone l

from my

et to the shelter before

from my

brother is dead because of your selfishness

d shut, and the