- 3.
But River suddenly pulled away from him.
“Ms. Lynn, please don’t make things hard for
Luke.”
“It’s my fault. I shouldn’t have come here,
shouldn’t have bothered you…”
She started crying. “I’ll go.”
“River, I told you, I’ve got this,” Luke said,
instantly protective.
He wiped her tears, glaring at me.
All the softness was gone.
Now there was just disgust.
“Rainey, can you please stop being such a
pain?”
I cut him off. “If we’re calling off the
engagement, give me back my stuff.”
Luke frowned. “What stuff?”
I unclasped the red cord around my neck.
It held a jade pendant.
His mom gave it to me when we got engaged.
It was a family heirloom.
My mom gave him something way more
valuable.
It came from the palace, blessed by some
big–shot monk.
く
“Jade pendant for jade bracelet.”
Luke’s face hardened.
He stared at the pendant in my hand.
I’d had it since I was fifteen. Never took it off.
Everyone knew how much I loved it.
“You think I’m as pathetic as you?” Luke
snatched the pendant.
He gave me one last, cold look. “I’ll find the
bracelet at home and give it to you. Then
we’re done.”
When I got home, my brother, Mark Lynn, was
waiting.
L
“Rainey, I need to talk to you.”
He handed me a stack of papers.
“I’m transferring this office building to River.
She can collect rent.”
“She’s been through hell. She deserves a
break.”
I looked at the papers.
That building was Mom’s.
I grabbed the papers and ripped them up.
“Rainey!”
“What do you think you’re doing?”
Mark pushed up his glasses. “I already
covered up that time you pushed River down
the stairs.”
“She was hurt. Giving her a building is the
least I can do.”
“Have you forgotten Mom’s last words?”
Mark went silent.
Mom grabbed his hand, making him swear.
He had to promise to protect me, take care
of me, love me.
To never let anyone hurt me.
And never let anyone take what was mine.
L
“I haven’t forgotten.”
“But Rainey, River’s like my sister now.”
“Sharing my love between you isn’t that big of
a deal, is it?”
“Rainey, you’re so stubborn.”
Mark sighed. “Why can’t you be more like
River?”
- 4.
I wanted to laugh, but I started crying first.
“Mark Lynn.”
“No one touches Mom’s stuff.”
L
“You want to give River things? Fine. Give her
whatever you want.
Mark stopped.
Yeah, there wasn’t anything good here.
I threw the ripped paper in the trash and went
upstairs.
“Mom’s anniversary is coming up. Don’t
forget.
“I won’t,” Mark said.
“Get some rest. I’ve got to work,”
I didn’t answer. I didn’t turn back.
I didn’t sleep that night.
L
I gathered everything that reminded me of the
three of us.
I burned the photos.
Smashed everything I could.
Anything I could give away, I boxed it up and
sent it to charity.
All that was left was the little house full of
memories.
It was the only thing the Lynn family had
when Mom married Dad.
After Mom died, Mark and I couldn’t leave.
Then Dad moved out with River’s mom.
Mark barely came back here anymore either.
Luke used to come over every day.
I sat on the porch, holding Mom’s picture.
I cried myself to sleep.
Mom’s anniversary was the day after my
birthday.
She hung on until my birthday was over.
I cried for days.
Luke stayed by my side, watching me.
He’d been there for eight birthdays.
This wee the first on
Է
This was the first one he missed, but it didn’t
matter.
But Luke didn’t show.
River wouldn’t leave me alone.
She spammed her socials all night.
Some people livestreamed it to me.
“We couldn’t find a reason to celebrate, so
Luke said, ‘Let’s celebrate your tablet’s
birthday!“”
“Just wanted an excuse to eat cake, I guess.”
Expensive cake, champagne.
She was surrounded by bags and dresses,
く
wearing a crown.
Smiling sweetly at someone on her side.
Luke was smiling back.
I closed my eyes, making a wish.
“Mom, please protect me.
“Mom, help me get away from these awful
people.”
- 5.
On Mom’s anniversary, I waited.
Dad sent some stuff.
But Mark never showed up.
I called him three times. No answer.
River’s mom picked up on the fourth.
“Rainey? Is that you? Do you need Mark?”
“It’s Mom’s anniversary.”
“Oh, your mom’s anniversary? We’re awful.”
“My dog just had puppies. Mark and River are
so excited, they forgot…”
“It’s probably too late to come now, what
should we do?”
“Who’s that, Mom?”
“It’s Rainey. She seems angry. What do I do,
Mark?”
“Rainey?” Mark said.
I hung up and blocked his number.
Mom was smiling at me in the black–and-
white photo on the headstone.
It was April.
I knelt on the ground, I fell into the ice.
It didn’t matter, I wouldn’t forget Mom.
I hugged her picture.
Back at the house, Luke and the others were
there.
River was between them, holding flowers,
smiling.
Mark said, “Rainey, River won a big design
award.”
“I just wanted to follow in her footsteps,”
River said.
Luke laughed. “Follow her?”
“This stuff is about talent, River.”
My eyes were drawn to the design.
It was the same as my draft.
River stole my design!
“You stole my designs! River, how could
you…”
reached out to hit ber
