a's

room seemed to blur around me, even more like suffocating as anger and betrayal surged through my

right now, my picture perfect night has b

ining of color. "Nora, wait,

"So, you're telling me you didn't plan to kiss my sister in our l

who was lounged back on the couch, completely unperturbed. The first three buttons of

dramatic. You should've seen this

my sister. I can't even believe

s was your plan all along. You always

ard as fast as possible, raising his hands to intervene. "Nora, I'm

Jake. You're just sorry you got caught. If I h

nd thirty minutes time ?, Your intentions were so deliberate,

d the cake from the counter and hurled it at Jake. Frosting splattered everywhere, but

at cut through me like a knife. "Looks

rs blurring my vision. The night air hit my face like a slap, but it did nothing to cool my ra

hurled it at the windshield. The glass shattered with a

archivement. I turned on my heel and walked away, leaving the chaos behind me. T

ayed the scene over and over, like it couldn't yet process what had just happened. I found myself at a small park near the apartment,

face in my hands. Tears streame

screamed at the top of my voice

tions echoed in the almost deserted playground with

normal'. But at this moment I don't care what anyone t

t friend Jessica's contact. Jessica had always been there for me, through every

ora. Can you meet

the line. "Of course, Nora. I'll be th

sn't need to know what's wrong or what

girl who had suddenly become my step-sister when both our parents remarried. Emma had alway

ed me tightly, and for the first time since the ordeal began, I felt a glim

inished, Jessica took a deep breath wiping the tears off my face with her palm. "You don't deserve this, Nora. Jake is an idiot and have

shing down. "I know, but it just hurts so

ol for taking advantage of that, truth be told I'm glad you saw

night with no words spoken, and at that moment I lost

ou've had a really long day and trust m

all the way to her car and she d

to the refrigerator to get a beer. Staggere

it was, hours or days,

Jake's calls and continuous messages of how it

g snacks on my doorstep knowing fully well I didn'

someone away which I was v

ant to see you"

deeply sorry I am. She hasn't been receiv

nd, get out and never come back here." I heard the door slamm

the stamina or courage to com