She glared. “I knew you were trying to sabotage me! If my parents find out, they’ll kill me! I’ll
never be with Jake!”
“If you won’t help me, I’ll find a way myself!
Ethan, I see you for who you are now, a
heartless coward! We’ve been friends for over a
decade, and I’ve wasted it all on you!” She
stormed out, slamming the door behind her. She
hadn’t even given me a chance to respond.
There was no reasoning with her.
I heard the rest from my mom. The hospital
called while she was shopping with Mrs. Miller.
Sarah had gone to a back–alley clinic for an
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abortion. Complications. They called 911, but it was bad. They had to remove her uterus. Mrs. Miller collapsed when she heard the news.
Outside the operating room, she wailed, “My
Sarah was always such a good girl! How could this happen?”
Mr. Miller asked me what I knew. I hesitated. “I’m sorry, sir. I’ve been busy with school, I haven’t seen Sarah in a while. Our classes are
on different floors.”
It would be cruel not to visit. Once she was
stable, I went to the hospital. At the door, I
heard her say, “Does Jake know I’m here? No,
he doesn’t. He’d be here if he knew.” Mrs.
Miller sobbed silently. Mr. Miller threw his
phone against the wall. “You’re still thinking
about him after all this! What is wrong with
you?!” Sarah stared at the ceiling, pale and
silent.
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43
I set down the get–well gifts. “I’ll talk to her.
Why don’t you two go get something to eat?”
The moment they left, Sarah lashed out, trying
to throw a pillow at me. The movement sent a
jolt of pain through her, tears streaming down
her face.
“I don’t want you here!” she finally spat. “Are
you happy now? This is all your fault! If you
hadn’t been so heartless, none of this would
have happened! It’s all your fault, Ethan!”
I peeled an apple for her. She took it, then
threw it out the window. I wasn’t bothered.
Childish games. “I don’t enjoy watching people
suffer. I told you to tell your parents. You didn’t
listen. This is on you. And Jake? He’s with
another girl now, one of your dancer friends.
They’re all over each other, the whole school
knows.”
She gritted her teeth. “That two–faced bitch!
<
Stealing her friend’s boyfriend!”
I sighed. “We just had a fight, he’s trying to
make me jealous! He doesn’t love her! It was
just a minor procedure! Don’t pity me! Youth is for making mistakes, I don’t regret anything! You should pity yourself, stuck studying all the time, I bet you’re not even happy!” She sounded
defiant, but I saw tears in her eyes.
I put it out of my mind, focused on studying.
Sarah had parents who loved and cared for her;
it wasn’t my responsibility. Even my mom was surprised. “I thought you cared about Sarah.
This happened, and you’re acting like nothing’s wrong. You barely visit her.” My feelings were
that obvious, apparently.
“I do feel for her, but she’s eighteen, she has to
take responsibility for her choices. Me being
upset won’t change anything.” Our choices
