Chapter 1

On the first day of summer break,my parents found me another job.

“Handing out samples at a warehouse store.The hourly pay is decent,and it’ll teach you how to deal with people.”

They had been feeding me the same line every year since I started college.

The first summer,they sent me to a meat-packing plant on the edge of town,then took my sister to Washington,D.C.,to watch the Fourth of July fireworks.

The second summer,they made me work night shifts at a gas station convenience store,then paid for Ellie’s expensive driving lessons.

The third summer,they put me to work as a cleaner at a neighborhood daycare,then took the whole family to the Bahamas with Ellie.

So where were they going this year?

“Italy.”

My brother Noah walked in with a smile and handed me a pair of black non-slip shoes.

“I bought these especially for you.The soles are soft,so standing for ten hours shouldn’t be too bad.”

“I’m paying for the trip this time.Ellie’s only twenty-three.This is the age when she should be seeing the world.”

Ellie squealed and threw herself into his arms.

“I knew you loved me best,Noah.”

I looked at my parents.One lowered her head to organize the plane tickets,while the other turned to close the window.Neither of them looked at me.

It was as if I were decades older than Ellie instead of just one year.

I suddenly smiled and crouched down to put on the shoes.

They were light.

Light enough to carry me out of this house.

…

Mom was packing Ellie’s suitcase in the living room when she suddenly looked up at Noah.

“She graduates next year.You know plenty of people,so make sure you find her something easy and respectable.College graduates are everywhere these days.Jobs with real benefits are hard to come by.”

Halfway through,her voice abruptly died away,as if she had only just remembered that she had another daughter in the room who was about to graduate.

Noah did not notice.

“Don’t worry.I’ve already spoken to a friend.As soon as Ellie gets her degree,she can join their marketing department.”

Only then did he remember me.

“Do you need any help,Claire?”

“No.”

I had already accepted an offer for an overseas management trainee position with a multinational corporation.

As soon as my graduation documents arrived in a few days,I would leave.

Noah nodded without asking anything else.

Dad sensed the awkwardness and tried to smooth things over with a laugh.

“Claire has always been independent.We’ve never had to worry about her.”

My hands paused on the laces.

I was not independent by nature.

I had simply learned early that if I did not take care of myself,no one else would.

Noah was the firstborn and had six years of our parents’undivided attention.Ellie was the youngest,the little princess of the family.

And me?I was their child too,but no one had ever truly cherished me.

Ellie came over and linked her arm through mine.

“What do you want?I can bring you something from Rome.”

She sounded sincere,but her eyes flickered.

So even she knew how much I had been wronged over the years.

But she would soon forget that brief pang of guilt.

Whenever she traveled,she remembered the scarves Mom liked,the team ties Dad collected,and the old film rolls Noah wanted.

She just never remembered anything about me.

I was used to it.I merely smiled.

“Whatever you like.”

Mom jumped in at once.“See?Ellie thinks of you wherever she goes.If your sister is being this thoughtful,shouldn’t you do something for her too?”

Dad seemed to have been waiting for that opening.

“Why don’t you give Ellie part of your first paycheck as spending money for the trip?”

“Oh,I don’t need it,”Ellie said lightly,glancing at me.

Noah stroked her hair.

“Don’t worry about money.Just enjoy yourself.”

In a few sentences,they had divided up money I had not even earned yet.Not one of them asked what I thought.

It had been the same every summer for four years.

Last year,after paying my tuition,I had only a few dollars left in my bank account.I borrowed ten dollars from Ellie so I could buy dinner.Less than five minutes after she sent it,both Mom and Noah called me.

“You’re an adult.How can you still take money from your little sister?”

“If you’re short on living expenses,ask Mom and Dad.Don’t take advantage of Ellie.”

But I had messaged Mom an hour earlier.

She had not replied.

When Ellie spoke,however,Mom always answered instantly.

My phone vibrated.I carried the new shoes back to my bedroom and found a message from the company.

“Your onboarding paperwork is complete.Please report to the Chicago office next Monday.”

I replied,“Received.”

There was a knock at my door.Ellie walked in and headed straight for my suitcase.

“Mine is an ugly color.Let me use yours.”

“No.I need it.”

“What could you possibly need it for?You’re spending the whole summer at the store.”

She did not want my suitcase because it was prettier.She wanted it because she would not care if the baggage handlers damaged it.

Every time I had lent it to her before,it had come back with a few more dents.

I did not explain again.

She stared at me for several seconds.When I still refused to give in,she turned and slammed the door behind her.

I began counting down in my head.

Five,four,three,two,one.

The door flew open with a bang.

“Claire Miller.”

Just as expected,my parents stood there.Noah and a red-eyed Ellie were behind them.