When Sisterhood Becomes Betrayal

ways started

error that made the hair on my arms stand up. Her face, usually composed with that smug, self-satisfied smirk she wore li

with a bang, but with a slow, shu

. I was wide awake in my own bed, and the

! I saw them! T

from their room to hers. My mom' s voice was a high-pitched

rer this time! I saw their faces, Mom! Rot

t. In my previous life, this was the moment I had jumped out of bed. This was when I had run to

irst mistake in a

et with her tears, my calm with her hysterics. Our parents, Mr. and Mrs. Thompson, had sided with h

eek of the silent treatment from my mother. When I tried to hide the car keys to stop Sarah from driving to a "prepper" convention two

idn' t blame Sarah. They blamed me. For not believing. For not supporting them. For being the single crack in their perfect, unified front of m

aste fille

ening to the prelude of the same disaster. It was like getting a second chance, a do-

the thin walls. "It' s going to start with the birds! The news will repor

st night. They were doing a controlled fumigation of an invasive insect species at the city's largest park today. The not

miracle. A confirmation

itant but intrigued. "Bird

rtainty. "Hundreds of them, falling from

. "Oh, my God. T

d at the email again. It didn't specify the type of bird, but the park was famous f

ng to show them the logical explanation. It had only mad

would do thin

were on, casting long shadows. My parents were huddled around Sarah, who was sitting up in her

for Sarah. My father looked confused, but a flicker of excitement was i

voice strained. "Sarah ha

a slow, calculated look of awe spread acros

, my voice filled with a

h, finally returned to her face. She nodded slowly, h

them. This time, I would watch them