A Legacy of Lies, A Love Lost

nd, my sister, even the brother I raised-they all lived in t

s my own death sentence, my husband was already asking me to give up my only

e. At a lavish party celebrating my "generosity," my

e of my life's work. But I knew Cayla wasn't si

l gift wasn't my fortune or my life. It was the truth I left behind, a fin

pte

a P

bout us. My sister, Cayla, would nod softly, her gentle eyes misting over, confirming his words without saying a sound.

slammed doors, he yelled about how I never had time for him. He always ran to Cayla f

e. "Alva, you have a rare terminal neurological disorder. A few months, at best." My world crumbled. N

home, a future. My future. Their future. All of it, no

a little bored. He was already done with me, even before the diagnosis.

ven look at me. He looked at the wall, at the framed medical degre

ved every lie she spun. I closed my eyes, a sharp pain shot through my temples. It wasn't

ely a whisper, "the one spot ava

eyes. Not concern. Not love. Guilt, maybe. Or impatienc

it. What they used to justify everything. Every bu

oks, my dreams. She wanted to be an artist. I built her a studio. I bought her supplies. I paid for her obscure art degrees.

a, it's just a few months for you anyway. Why cling to it? Let he

illing the pain away. It was useless. The disease was a wildfire, raging through my nerves. Ev

ice steady. "Cayla can hav

ath he hadn't realized he was holding. "Alv

l to pin on me when they wanted something. I stood up, the room spin

ion. Enough time to become the woman they always wan

h my burning eyes. The house, the sanctuary I had bu

ching in a notepad. Her head rested casually against his knee. He was laughing, a sound I rarely heard direc

lva, you're back. How are you feeling?

voice raspy. "Cayla, I

ed look of innocent surprise

tlett & Associates. And all the patents. Th

es wide. "Alva! What are you talki

special one. To my beloved sister. For

s, for a split second, gleamed with raw, unadulterated greed. T

her eyes. "You don't have to do this. Yo

erous whisper. "I know, Cayla. I know exactly what

tched. Her ey

to his ear. He saw us, saw the tension, an

giving me everything! Her firm, her property! I told her no, but she's so

suspicion, and a strange relief. He patted Cayla's

he pain was unbearable now. "I just need to res

muffled against Don's shirt,

disdain. "Bye, Alva." Then, to Cayla, his voice sof

e sounds of their laughter echoing behind me. The door clicked shut. My legs gave out. I sa

vous Cayla. Their faces, once filled with innocence, now haunted by betrayal. I started emptying drawers, sorting through my life

le. A ghost already. "They want the perfect woman," I whispered to the f

nd when she's gone, they will get the truth. A truth that

low, agonizing. A lifetime of guilt. A torment they co