Chapter 3

The doorbell rang.

I put the last plate in the rack, wiped the corner of my eye, and went to answer it.

A delivery driver stood outside with a flat envelope.

“Package for Emily Carter.”

It was my diploma.

Something inside me suddenly loosened.

This meant I could finally leave.

“What came?”

Ethan’s voice sounded behind me.

He stood there with a mug of coffee in one hand and the other tucked into his pocket, watching the smile I hadn’t realized was on my face.

“My diploma.”

“Oh.”

He turned to leave, then seemed to remember something.

“What do you want for graduation? I told you I’d get you something.”

I stared at him for a second.

I hadn’t expected him to remember.

But I had never expected much from him anyway.

After thinking for a moment, I looked up.

“Come with me to my travel health appointment tomorrow.”

My company required a medical clearance before sending us abroad, and I still needed one final appointment.

“That’s it?”

He looked surprised.

I nodded.

“That’s it.”

He agreed easily.

The next afternoon, I packed my bag and waited by the front door.

When Ethan came downstairs, he looked apologetic.

“Chloe wants to pick up a few more things for the trip. I’m going to take her shopping first. When we get back, I’ll go with you.”

“But I have an appointment.”

“Then reschedule it. Chloe leaves tomorrow. She needs to get this done today.”

My mouth opened, then closed again.

The second Chloe saw that I wasn’t answering, her eyes filled with tears. She twisted the hem of her shirt between her fingers.

“Maybe I shouldn’t go. Ethan, you should take Emily instead.”

He rejected the idea without thinking.

“Don’t be ridiculous. You’re going on vacation. Of course you want a few things you feel good in.”

Then maybe he realized how biased he sounded, because he looked at me and tossed the choice into my lap.

“Emily? What do you think?”

I looked at his face.

He was waiting, but there was pressure behind the question.

Suddenly, I felt exhausted.

They were pretending the decision was mine.

We all knew it wasn’t.

I stayed quiet for a few seconds, then smiled faintly.

“Go.”

Ethan visibly relaxed.

Chloe hurried over and kissed my cheek.

“Thank you, Em.”

“You’re welcome.”

I went to the appointment alone.

Afterward, I booked an Amtrak ticket to New York for the next morning.

When I got home, Chloe was showing Mom and Dad everything she had bought.

At the end, she pulled out gifts for both of them.

Mom was delighted.

Then she noticed me, and the smile disappeared from her face.

“Emily, I’m not trying to criticize you, but look at your sister. She thinks about us. She bought things for both me and your father. You never do that.”

“With what money?”

Chloe could buy them gifts because Mom had handed her five hundred dollars in spending money before the trip.

Mom knew that perfectly well.

But somehow, she still found a way to use it against me.

Her face stiffened.

“What is that supposed to mean? Are you complaining that I didn’t give you money? How old are you? Do you really have to compete with your little sister over everything?”

“I’m twenty-four. She’s twenty-three.”

“That’s enough!” Dad snapped.

“You’re a grown woman. Stop arguing with your mother.”

Ethan looked at me with a complicated expression.

“Emily, what’s gotten into you lately? You’ve been angry about everything.”

The second everyone took her side, Mom’s eyes turned red.

She spun around and went to her bedroom.