The Price of His Control

him, just stared at the empty space where my plate of panca

ariness from years of walking on eggshells, of shrinking myself t

m in Hawaii with Lisa's family. I thought of him touching her father's shoulder without a second thought. The hypocris

It was about control, and it smelled like rubbing alcohol and deceit. The cl

nreachable. When she died, he was on vacation. When I was at her funeral, he

elief. "After everything I've done for you, you're

is neglect, his public humiliation of me a "little disa

ark," I said, the words finally

at weren't my fault, I had swallowed my own pain to keep the peace. I had tried to build a b

ter I'd thrown at her, stepped forward. Her makeup

, her voice dripping with venom. "You're jealous that Mark

his expression softening. He saw

e a failed investment. "I try to be good to you, Sarah, and you just throw

he ease with which he did it was what finally kil

livered the fi

ld Lisa to slow-walk your sister's admission. I couldn't have

erent. He was actively, deliberately cruel. He and Lisa had conspired t

of grease-it all disappeared. There was only his face, twisted in a

oice hard. "And then we can go home and

y sister to a lonely, uncomfortable death. He wanted m

the smug satisfaction in her eyes. I

oice was hollow, but my heart w

ft to save. There was nothing left to feel but a vast, empty coldness w