Chapter 12 - SISTERS
Sydney stared at the envelope.
“You came here to give me those?”
Terrence looked exhausted.
“I came to make sure you were alive.”
Her eyes filled.
“And then give me those?”
“Yes.”
Sydney turned away.
“I deserve that.”
Terrence said nothing.
She expected anger.
He gave her something worse.
Distance.
“Is there any chance?”
“No.”
The answer broke something inside her.
Sydney nodded slowly.
“I understand.”
Terrence stood.
“The baby is Jason’s?”
“Yes.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
He looked toward the hospital door.
Then back.
“You used Meline as an excuse every time you saw him.”
Sydney covered her face.
“I know.”
“You let me believe your sister needed you.”
“I know.”
“Did she know anything?”
“No.”
Terrence nodded.
“That’s what I thought.”
He placed the papers on the bedside table.
“I hope the baby is healthy.”
Sydney started crying.
“Terrence.”
He stopped.
“I loved you.”
“I know.”
“No.”
She shook her head.
“You don’t.”
“I did.”
“For real.”
Terrence’s expression hardened.
“That doesn’t help.”
Then he left.
Two hours later, Meline arrived.
Sydney looked shocked to see her.
“Why are you here?”
“To make sure you’re okay.”
“After everything?”
Meline sat near the bed.
“You’re still my sister.”
Sydney laughed weakly.
“You probably shouldn’t say that anymore.”
Meline looked at the bracelet around Sydney’s wrist.
Sydney noticed.
Her fingers touched the engraving.
Sisters by blood.
Family by choice.
“I don’t deserve this.”
“No.”
Meline’s answer surprised her.
“You don’t.”
Sydney looked down.
“But deserving something and changing are different questions.”
Sydney began crying again.
“I hated you.”
Meline remained silent.
“For years.”
“Why?”
“Because Mom and Dad compared us.”
“They said you were responsible.”
“Smart.”
“Stable.”
“Quiet.”
“And I was always dramatic.”
Meline leaned back.
“So you slept with my fiancé.”
Sydney closed her eyes.
“When you say it like that, there’s no excuse.”
“There isn’t.”
Sydney nodded.
“Jason made me feel like I had finally won something you wanted.”
Meline absorbed that.
“And the loan?”
“I knew Dad needed your signature.”
“Did you know they were falsifying documents?”
“At first, no.”
“Later?”
“Yes.”
Meline’s face hardened.
Sydney wiped her tears.
“I told myself you could afford it.”
“That’s what Mom said.”
Sydney flinched.
“I’m sorry.”
Meline looked at her sister for a long moment.
“I believe you regret getting caught.”
Sydney began to protest.
Meline raised one hand.
“But I don’t know if you regret what you did.”
Sydney stopped.
“That’s something you’ll have to figure out without me.”
Meline stood.
Sydney panicked.
“Are you leaving?”
“Yes.”
“For how long?”
“I don’t know.”
Meline walked toward the door.
Sydney looked at the bracelet again.
Then quietly removed it.
She held it out.
Meline stopped.
Sydney’s hand trembled.
“You bought this for the sister you thought you had.”
Meline looked at it.
Then closed Sydney’s fingers around the bracelet.
“Keep it.”
Sydney looked up.
“Why?”
“So every time you see it, you remember that family by choice is earned.”
Meline left.
May you like
Sydney stared at the bracelet long after the door closed.
For the first time in her life, she had no one left to blame.
