- 4.
That night ended with Chad taking Brittany to the hospital.
I got home and found the house empty.
My parents went to the hospital to see
Brittany.
く
I sat in the dark, thinking.
My parents loved me, but they were strict. I
was supposed to be perfect.
If I had a fight with another kid, they made
me apologize.
Brittany was the underdog, so they always
sided with her.
She must have given them an earful at the
hospital.
An hour later, they came home with Brittany.
Mom helped Brittany inside, Dad’s face like
stone.
<
“Reagan, come here,” Dad said.
Behind him, Brittany looked fragile, but she
was smirking.
“Did you upset Brittany again?” Dad said
angrily, “She’s sick! Have you lost your
empathy?”
Brittany was twisting everything.
I decided to play the game.
If she can fake it, so can I.
I lowered my head and said, “I’m sorry, Dad. I let you down.”
I pulled out a file, with a therapist’s note and
a withdrawal form for cobeel
My parents looked surprised, even Brittany straightened up.
I said sadly, “I can’t control my emotions. I can’t focus. I might kill myself.
“You can’t take care of both of us. I’ll let
Brittany graduate. I’ll drop out for a year.”
Mom panicked. “No, you can’t!”
Dad was calmer, but pulled Mom into the
bedroom.
They whispered, but I heard them.
Mom was crying. “It’s my fault! I thought
Brittany needed help, but I made things
worse.”
<
Dad said, “Don’t blame yourself. We need to
find a solution…”
Brittany glared at me.
She picked up the doctor’s note. “Reagan,
when did you go to therapy? This is fake!”
I smirked. “You haven’t gone to therapy. At
least I have a fake note.”
My parents came out. I looked helpless.
“Please, leave me alone. I’ll give Brittany Chad
and you guys, if she wants. I’ll disappear.”
“Reagan! Don’t say that!” Mom grabbed my
hand. “Don’t be ridiculous!”
Dad walked up to Brittany, “We have a house
in town near school You can live there and
<
we’ll hire a nurse.”
Brittany’s eyes went wide. “You don’t want
me?!”
She started to freak out. “Please, you’re the only family I have!”
My parents comforted her, but they were firm.
I sniffled, but I smirked.
My parents were heartbroken after my death. Brittany became their daughter, so they
agreed.
But I was alive now. They couldn’t let Brittany
drive me to suicide.
Brittany was sent away
L
She told everyone at school that I kicked her
out.
People called me heartless.
I didn’t care. Graduation was what mattered.
Most of those people wouldn’t matter after high school.
Chad came to me. “Brittany cried all night.
Why are you doing this to her?”
I worked on geometry. “Chad, we broke up.
You can’t tell me what to do.”
“I didn’t agree to break up!” Chad said, “Our
engagement is a family thing. You can’t just
say it’s over!”
“Interesting ” I said with a smile “So you’re
<
“Interesting.” I said with a smile, “So, you’re
my boyfriend?”
“Why did Brittany cry to you all night? You’re with her while were suppose to be together.”
Chad sputtered.
“I just feel bad for her. She’s your cousin.”
I smiled and stayed quiet.
I had a recording of Chad with his friends.
He said, “Have you seen ‘Gone With the
Wind‘? Reagan is like Scarlett, and Brittany is
Melanie.”
He wanted us both.
<
I didn’t want to argue.
I needed to focus on what mattered.
