To Love Is To Hate

a P

efore me and ap

room. I stood still, my hand brushing against the tape recorder

iress, despite not sharing a drop of our blood. Yet here

irs! How could you be so malicious? You're worse

than a

, but I kept my face blank, suppressing th

bin's hand, shattering at my feet. The impact sen

ll dare t

down my leg. But I didn't flinch. I was used to his

t voice pleaded, like a perfect angel. "Sh

her words, his anger redirected. "Ada, why defend her? You could've

g

't still pooling around the glass at my feet. He

icker again. The faintest hint of sa

ght you back into this family, you were told to treat Ada like a sister. Yet

found me, my adopted parents, whom i called my grandparents, were already dead. I had

ing. Everything. And what had I gotten?

hought I wasn't listening. "If only Lisa had

out

nce fragile, had hardened into something cold, something

over me. It was over. I didn't need this anymore. Thi

you don't apologize, Lisa, I'll teac

fore he could strike, I caught h

voice froze i

rything, his anger and cruelty

the eye, my voice stea

, refusing to believe me. Bu

quietly, "then you and Ada wi

y. "What did you say?! You

in the air. She had expected me to crum

feigning concern, "pl

n his forehead bulging. "I want to s

ket and pulled out the tape recorder.

essed

followed by Ada's voice, sweet and sickly.

da, why are you sta

oom. "Lisa, if I say you pushed me down the st

ell into a

ll over his face. His precious Ada, his k

e quickly protested, "Robin, that's no

uth she couldn't run from. My voice, calm and solemn,

n only believes me. Nothing you say will change that. Robin, come quickly! Lisa's

ealization. I hadn't pushed Ada. She'd orchestrated the ent

r the first time. Then, after a pause, his brow furrowed. "Lisa, e

g, as though my silence was to blame. Even now, after l

ory must be fault

to defend myself, he threw the glass at me. The same glass that now left my foot swollen and bleeding. He h

still bleeding, but I fel

oss his face. Ada's tears came on cue, her voic

ful. "I just... I was so scared you and the family wouldn't want me anymore. When Lisa came b

expression shifting f

continued, her voice breaking. "I was

his time, his voice lacked the anger it had before. "Lisa, Ada made a mi

give

ive the girl who had tried to ruin me. Who framed me without a second tho

"Robin, from today, I'm cutting a

ck, but I wasn't done. "I wo

my room. Packing my things took only a moment. It wasn't surprising how

al, like I was running on autopilot. When I finished, I wheeled my suitcase down

ever think about coming back!" H

turning around. "

the glee beneath. "Robin, we should stop her! What if something

ry. She'll be back in a fe

walking, my suitcase rolling across the mar

d inside, out of breath, as if the world was ending. "Sir, Miss,

hat passed between Robin and Ada. Sho

istocrats in the capital. Of cou

ng with anticipation. "Let's go greet them!" Ada was already f

help but feel a sense of distance, like I was watching

s don