4
Upstairs, after changing, I put on a plain, long
dress that covered everything.
I ran right into Amy.
She screamed, recoiling. A bunch of people
rushed up from downstairs.
Jake shoved me from behind.
“What are you trying to do to Amy? Didn’t you
get enough in the slums? You can’t get rid of
your bad habits, and now you’re going after
her again!”
The shove ripped open the wounds on my
back, the pain making me see stars for a
く
second.
Amy quickly calmed Jake down, sobbing
quietly.
“It’s okay, Jake. Seeing Ashley just reminded
me of that time… It’s nothing. Mom, Dad,
Jake, Ashley didn’t do anything to me. You
don’t need to worry.”
That time?
It had been so long. How long had it been
since I could remember things from before?
That was the first time I’d seen Amy sitting on
our couch, barely taller than me.
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But Mom and Dad were so attentive to her,
and so was my brother.
My favorite doll, the new dress I’d just
bought, even the birthday present I’d picked
out, all ended up in her arms.
It seemed like everyone got nervous if she
was even a little upset.
I don’t know when it started, but my things
slowly got pushed into a corner while Amy’s
stuff took over my space.
Then came the first fight.
Mom and Dad had filled the house, where
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plants weren’t allowed, with flowers. They
even built a special greenhouse for her.
Right after that, I had an allergic reaction and
was hospitalized.
I couldn’t be around that stuff. They knew
that.
But no matter how much I protested, Mom
just slapped me.
“Why are you being so difficult? Everyone
else can handle it. Why can’t you?”
After that, I stopped making a fuss…
<
But Amy still didn’t leave me alone.
When I was learning to drive, she threw
herself in front of the car, crying and saying
things I didn’t understand.
Jake and Ryan got really angry.
Then I heard Amy screaming that she wanted to kill herself.
To make her feel better, I paid the price with my leg!
I practically crawled home, where they forced me to kneel and apologize to Amy.
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I kept explaining, trying to prove myself.
I thought I’d be safe when Mom and Dad got
back, but they didn’t say a word.
They just dumped me in a war–torn slum
overseas for six years!
And now this.
Jake looked stunned, but he didn’t apologize.
“Amy’s just too nice. She’s not hurt now, but
that doesn’t mean you won’t go after her.
You’re just too kind–hearted.”
Amy wiped her eyes and apologized to me.
く
“Ashley, please don’t mind him. He’s just too
protective of me. I don’t know what it is, but
he just gets worked up whenever he sees
you… It’s my fault for being so scared.”
Mom and Dad stepped forward to comfort
her, looking at me with suspicion.
“How about this? Ashley can stay in the
storage room downstairs. The second floor…
it’s best if you don’t go up there for now.”
I nodded carefully. The storage room was
better than the mud and filth of the slum.
I was exhausted. I didn’t want to explain
anything.
<
Besides, I didn’t care about any of this
anymore.
“Mr. Smith, Mrs. Smith, can I go to Grandma’s
tomorrow?”
The only family I wanted to see. I wondered if
she even remembered having a
granddaughter after all this time.
Everyone’s face clouded over. I shrank back,
terrified.
“That’s why you came back? You know
Grandma doesn’t like Amy, and you’re still
going to see her? You haven’t changed at
all!”
<
“Ashley, you disgust me. You’ve already
pushed Amy to the breaking point. Are you
still going to bully her?”
Jake was screaming at me.
I curled up in a ball, putting my hands over my
head, and kept apologizing.
“I’m sorry! I’m sorry, I won’t go! I didn’t mean
to, I just wanted to see Grandma. I’m sorry…”
Mom looked at me in disbelief, reaching out
to touch my shoulder.
I recoiled in horror.
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“I won’t touch you, I won’t, Ashley. Mom won’t
touch you…”
She covered her mouth, not understanding
why I’d become like this.
The pain in her eyes seemed even more real
than before.
