The 99-Like Heartbreak

breath. The phone call ended abruptly. A moment later, she stepped out

t see you," she stam

ears. A part of me, the part that had been raised to be polite and avoid conflict,

Tiffany," I

Sarah, please, you misunderstood. My mother... she's very sick, and she worries. I was just t

He'll think I'm just some gold-digger. He'll kick me out. I have nowhe

was just a scared girl trying to survive? My instinct for compassion, honed by y

finally relented. "But if you

with relief. "Thank you, Sarah. Thank

a walk by the lake on the Reed estate, saying she wanted to apologize prope

d story about her childhood when she suddenly "tripped," her arms flailing wil

igh-pitched, terrified sound that carried across the property. By the time Ethan and his father came run

ready forming on my head. Tiffany was immediatel

ears streaming down her face. "I don'

belief. "No, I didn't! You tri

of fury and disappointment. "Pushed

with shock and betrayal. "She's lyi

ave drowned! All I see is you, perfectly fine, and her, terrifie

one! She's using you, using all of us!" My words tumbled out i

t me with disgust. "You're just jealous, Sarah. You've been je

seemed "unhappy" and "possessive" of Ethan. She' d "accidentally" let it slip to Mr. Reed that I was worried about her "distracting"

uel and unwarranted. Ethan, who had always seen himself as a protector of the weak, h

been wronged, but I was the one being punished. I vowed th

bsessive. I tried to find proof of her lies, but she was always one step ahead, covering her tracks perfectly. The mor