Between Pride and Desire

ch

w months ago. Kael and Sarah are sitting on a well-kept stone bench in the carefully tended garden. The way he holds my sister's hand reveal

t have changed, but rather that he decided to acknowledge

all-white attire and the situation she's

ed me to the garden, is the rigid attitude and inflexible tone with which

l?" Kael was the first to re

ister," I summarized

ham in a restaurant in Seattle and that she was in a wheelchair, I was perplexed. It

le, she is still my twin sister. Until recently, we had

?" Shirley inquired, waiting fo

surprised," I admitted, as

ool of the luxurious hotel where we were staying, her

ly because I'm shocke

silence full of meaning,

nd most importantly, how could I have been here in Mo

let go of and even abandoned my old number, opting to use only the numb

y asked, and her gaze suggested that wa

I love my sister, and all I've ever done is prioritize mys

nge course and head in a completely different direction f

itors or the luxuries I was enjoying in Monaco; I just packed my b

and her situation, learning about the accident she had and her rel

s condition and other things I couldn't find in the media, but he didn't answ

nd, but I quickly reconsidered, certain that I wouldn't be well received,

ectly from her, offering my full support at that moment because I couldn't even imagine ho

rom the press, Sarah was irreversibly par

says, dismissing the nurse and

ndication of the feelings he finally showed for my sister. I deduced that it was only b

me to the garden. Given the entire situation, we all exchanged looks

Sarah were sitting, attempting to reach for her hand. Howeve

g the tears stuck in my throat, and

tone as with the nurse. "And you're not welcome here, Rachel. I want you

irely understandable. The way my sister was treating me now was a result of everything I've done, which w

y defense for pain has

said, releasing her hand. "I came from Monaco

," Kael takes the side of his beloved. "So, if Sa

tried but without much appeal. "Ar

Sarah now used a softer tone, even though the wo

out of any place, let alone in the present situation

know what's best for yourself. So, if you want to be with this man and ki

hen that someone has nothing to offer me. An

rebuts my words. "Kael makes me happy and stayed with me w

ration taking over my being and leaving me with em

but with the certainty th

n the couple, and I still heard

ame to

I could, that I only found out now about everything that happened. But if she doesn't want to hear my explanation

ame across Mary, who was entering the house with a smile, and the memory of the disturbed

letely different and happy air to her life. In the end, I had to be glad that my mother

ed, not disguising at all

m. I don't want her to realize h

e you do

," I explained still in the same tone as before

ed with the information. "Did something

daughter-in-law?"

es her tone. "Why can't you just leave the pa

ected her rudely. "And from what she just told me in th

explanations. I was fed up with all of this. This endless bla

residence, I wondered where I would go now. Going back to my apartment was out of the questio

ks. So, I considered looking for a cheap hotel. Everyone in Seattle already knew about my fin

sh way. Going back to Monaco seemed like a sensible alternative. After all, I tried to show Sarah

influential suitors. Maybe if I went back and insisted more,

rdable hotel. After checking in, I entered the modest yet clean and organized room. I la

tion to speak for herself despite the wheelchair near the bench. Despite trying to resi