Once Upon a Marriage

ad pass

over flickering candles. A day when everything felt right. I shared my birthday with Jennifer

er replayed over and over,

on her? She's already got e

ossible and my chest felt tight. There wa

k. My mother had left them that morning, wrapped with c

t box, running my fingers

l hid

turned to see Jennifer lea

er dress ironed to perfection,

nnifer said. "It's rude, you kno

ghtened aroun

to the room, her voice drop

this year. Said it wasn't worth the effor

mp in my throat growi

led her

t don't expect anyone to care." She s

r, the rai

had finally quieted a

ened withou

her arms crossed and

ot happy," she sa

ngers curling into t

ping closer. "Jennifer shares her birthday with you out of kindness, and

I kept my head down,

es nar

orld owes you something just because she spoils y

palms, my breath co

said, her voice lowering into

r slamm

°○°○°○°○

gentler this time. Familiar footsteps cr

ke a soft blanket. Her hand brushed back my hair, an

e, brushing the te

, I missed yo

e weight in my ches

eplied quietly. The words felt

, her hands holdi

e. I know today wasn't what you d

followed was wa

cklace you've been eyeing?"

unexpected that the

." I replied, forcing

to make my daughter

the windows as wipers struggled to keep up. We had gotte

the lig

the rain. The screech of ti

, si

°○°○°○°○

eptic and the steady beeping of machines filled the air. A sharp a

ecame clear something was wrong. His eyes were r

home," he said. The word

ter that, but the wei

harsher, her words more biting. The blame was constant as if she never w

one evening when the house was qui

their words pressing down on my chest like a heavy stone. My fingers gripped t

tearing through me. My father's silence, Jadeline's venom

egs against the floor barely registered. My

lked it all in and celebrated with Jen

ind me. My back pressed against the door as I sl

e this cruelty? How could the heavens take the only one that truly