The Unwanted, The Unstoppable

ollapsing against the Colonel in a dr

stairs and stumbled, clutching her h

she pulled whenever she

ure hatred. "Look what you've d

tonight. I just watched

r side. "Mom! Mom, are you oka

s reacting. Seeing my stony expression, she flo

," she gasped. "A c

d of emotion. I turned and went into my room, pul

and a small wooden box where I kept the few mementos from my time

ottom of the stairs, a f

oked down at them. "I'll be back for the m

d down t

s brand new, with "Kristen & Jason's Engagement" embossed in gold on the c

word, I pi

you're doing?" th

sten and Jason, smiling radiantly. It must have been taken

Kristen. "You knew for weeks,

uldn't mee

ne rang. The Colon

wonderful evening... yes, we're

e. "Oh, no, she's our only one. We pour

As if I didn't exist. As if I wasn

escaped my lips. It

y as he hung up the phone. "You see? You s

not the one who lies to my future in-laws. I'm not t

I said, my voice fla

ed for

self at me. She grabbed my arm, her nails digg

me, Kristen

you stay, I'll be the one to leave! You can have the ho

a desperate, last-ditch ef

head at her pathetic act. "You're the golden c

rm free and t

ple like you always land on your feet. But one day, your li

he front door

th,

me from the top of the stairs. Her fa

, calculated malice, she th

erself into the air, twisting her body so she woul

ng scream as she hit

e shrieked, rus

contorted with a rage I had never

g the front of my shirt, and shove

screamed, his voice echoing in the

. He didn't stop. He pulled me up and threw me agai

ge of the bottom step. Pain, white-h

isten, who was now sobbing in her arms. "S

duffel bag and threw it

f my house and don't you ever come back! You want money? You'll

e pain in my side makin

my hair, dragging me to my feet

ughter of mine

d me, hard, in th

fell down the front steps, landi

door sla

see them hovering over Kri

on. "Is everything alright over t

, his voice suddenly calm and neighborly. "My apologies

pled on the ground. "Is that... Fait

s voice drift through the closed door. "We'r

ixture of pity and judgment. He d

der in the distance. Someone

in. The Colonel stepped out, look

acked your sister and then fell down the steps trying to flee

the pain was too much. I collap

ut, but to brand me as a criminal. To destroy my

ed and blue lights washed over me.

not be