I Once Loved My Foster Brother

n years, I lived a lie. The lie was t

tersons, my parents' wealthy friends, took me in. They gave me a beautiful room, expensive cl

started to revolve around him. He was my protector in those first few years, the one who would chase away the nightmares. He was m

birthday, I finally found the courage to tell him. We were standing by the pool, the water gl

bling. "I have to tell you something

let out a short, cold laugh. "Scarlett, don't be ridiculous. You' re my

was better, quieter, more of what he wanted, he would see me. I spent the next four years trying. It was a slow, soul-crushing process. He

made it her mission to make my life a living hell. The public humiliation was the end. At his own birthday party, she accused me of something I didn't do, and

ting for scraps of affection he would never give. I applied for an overseas scholar

ed the last of my things into a single suitcase, my p

, sweetie?" she asked, h

decade but had never truly felt like home. "I'

ort in London. We can' t wait to have you. Your cousin Ethan has alrea

or the first time in weeks. "Tell him I

ose together. They looked so perfect, so happy. It was a picture of everything I could never have. The sight shou

my cheek. I remembered every dismissive word, every careless cruelty. He called me his sister when it was

ond. There was no recognition, no feeling. He just looked through me and then

d with my childish handwriting, then a teenager' s scrawl, all of it dedicated to him

s steady a

ndon. I' m don

ad it or burn it. It didn' t matter anymore. I picked up my single suitcase