The Sister He Scorned, Now Adored

a Hard

y resolve didn't waver. A quick tap. Unfollow. Another tap. Unfollow. It was a digital severing, a silent de

o days. The countdown was a r

om reminder of their presence. The silence pressed in on me, heavy and suffocating. I made myself a simple d

his face. Another photo, of them holding hands, their fingers intertwined. The final image was a close-up of her hand, a sparkling diamond g

opped the phone. The photos were beautiful, perfect, designed to inf

ttle smile. Good for

yped a quick reply: "Beautiful pho

. Blocked Holden's. Deleted their contacts

it vibrated again. My college group ch

to see them. To say goodbye, properly, to the few friends who had managed to stay close despite my almost-hermit-like existen

trange sense of defian

eat! Can't wait to see you,

im. He was the golden boy, the protective older brother who occasionally g

eeping my tone light. "Engage

Remember how he used to be so overprotective of you, Chelsea? Like a little

so sweet to you, Chels. Carrying your books, mak

Sweet. Overprotective. My friends saw him as a hero. T

signs. Holden, dismissing my dreams. Holden, telling me to "get used to

. They would never understand.

ie tasting like ash. "But we've both

es of laughter, ghosts of touches. I drifted in and out of a restless sleep, unt

appeared, his hand outstretched. He picked me up, his strong arms a safe haven. He smiled, and in his eyes, I was special, loved. But then, his f

sp, my pillow so

ness, that protective streak. Perhaps then, my heart wouldn't have clung to him so

the illusion was shattered, le

ilent sentinel. Inside, the shredded memories were buried deep. I looked at it, then

aving a history. A childhood steeped in a love that was

my future. My gaze landed on the heavy suitcase containing some old academ

through it one last time, ruthlessly weeding out anyth

lden. He was back. Dressed in a sharp suit, a brief cas

the stairs. His brow furrowed. "Chelsea? What a

flat. "Just clearing out s

handle, effortlessly lifting the heavy case. My heart gave a ti

this?" he asked, hi

voice barely a whisper.

hels? This looks like your old portfolio. All your designs." He looked at

. Years of my life.

e," I said, forcing the word

s and, without ceremony, dropped the heavy suitcase in. The thud echoed in

derstand. He never would. He just saw a pile

blem solved. Now, go get ready. Mom and Patricia want us all to have dinner toget

her new marriage, her new status, her new fa

, turning away, the empt

ea, don't be difficult. It's important.

course. Alw

" I said, my voice cold

come crying to me when you're hungry later." He walked past me, heading

now I was leaving. He didn't know he'd just discarded the last, tan

dining room. "Is Chelsea alright, H.

is voice dismissive. "Just bein

was leaving. And I

suitcase in the trash wasn't a loss. It was a release. And the c