3
As we were talking, Finn arrived, looking
handsome in his suit and styled hair. He
kissed Chloe’s cheek and asked softly,
“Ashley still not here?”
Chloe nodded tearfully. “It’s okay. Forget
about her.” Finn’s face hardened. “Someone
like her would only taint our wedding. Chloe,
you’re the bride today. Don’t waste your tears
on someone who doesn’t deserve them.”
Chloe leaned into his embrace, her face full
of sadness. “No matter what, Ashley is still
く
my sister.”
She always seemed so sincere.
Just like three years ago, when I was chosen
as the valedictorian, the school had asked my
parents to attend my graduation ceremony, to
say a few words on stage and for the
school’s promotional photos. I carefully
worded my request when I called them. Mom
agreed.
But that morning, she called to say they
couldn’t make it. “Chloe’s sick. We can’t leave
her home alone.”
In the video call, Chloe, looking pale,
く
apologized to me. “I’m sorry, Ashley. I’m not
feeling well… You’ve always been so
independent. You’ll do great even without
Mom and Dad there.”
“Congratulations on graduating, Ashley.”
Congratulations.
How could I be happy? On my graduation day,
I apologized to my professors, to the
department, to everyone involved in the
ceremony. Passing by the camera crew, I
overheard someone complaining, “We’d
rehearsed everything. Now we have to
rearrange it. What a mess. And she’s
supposed to be the valedictorian.”
<
After the ceremony, I checked my phone and
saw a new post on Chloe’s social media:
“Just a small cold, but Mom and Dad are
taking such good care of me. Little joys of
life~” The photo was of the three of them
together, taken in Chloe’s bedroom. They
hadn’t even gone to the hospital.
What a serious illness.
