"I knew it wouldn't be a good movie but you didn't believe me."He gripped my waist, slowly leading me to a corner, "Watch it Char, or I might bite you." He growled playfully at me, amusement flashing in his eyes."Oh yeah?" I followed, lowering my voice, "I'd like to see you try."My voice was bar
CHARLOTTESitting on the bed, I stared at Madeline’s vacant corner across from me.It had been almost a week, and she wasn't back yet.Picking my phone, I dialed her line, hearing it ring till the machine directed me to her voicemail. I cut the call, huffing in frustration. For days straight, her ca
As I waited, my mind drifted back to the last conversation I had with Caeson. It had been a week ago, and his words still haunted me. He had said something like, ‘You can stay with Vance if you want, or do the opposite if you prefer otherwise.’ It was such a strange, cryptic statement. I had no idea
CHARLOTTE"When writing an essay, you must be very careful not to mix personal feelings with your narration or description unless necessary."The lecturer's voice boomed as she ranted on and on about essays.Sitting in the third row to the back, I twirled the pen in between my fingers, releasing a s
"Would you please stop? I’m trying to listen." I snapped, keeping my voice low while I glared at him from my periphery.He raised a brow at me, his lips stretching in amusement. "Then listen, I’m not stopping you."Suddenly I felt a palm on my lap, my eyes widening as Taide's hands climbed their way
CHARLOTTEI dropped down to her level, my heart pounding as I took my best friend into my arms.Goddess.When did she get here?Tears welled up in my eyes, and I embraced her tightly. "Mads," I sobbed, "How’ve you been?""Char, I’m fine." She laughed, as I hurled her into the room. I pulled her to t
CHARLOTTESitting in the middle of an intense biology class, I bit the top of my pen, feeling the bitter taste of the plastic as the lecturer's voice drifted into my ears.A few groans left the lips of students, as the lecturer went on and on about the cells and body autonomy.I jotted down the ones
CHARLOTTE"So, you’re a thousand percent certain he's not gay?" I asked, applying the mascara to my eye.Today was D-day, and I was getting ready for tonight. Madeline was helping too, though. She sat on the bed, helping me arrange the corset dress I was going to wear.She shrugged, the action seen
CHARLOTTEI had no intention of sharing visiting hours with the boys.There was no reason to put myself through that kind of torment.The moment I found out Madeline was awake, I demanded that Caeson drop me off at the care home where I had left Da’ana. I wasn’t ready to deal with my father’s case,
TAIDEThe steady beeping of Madeline’s heart monitor was the only sound in the hospital room.The rhythmic pulse filled the silence, a reminder that she was still here, still breathing, still alive.But it didn’t feel like enough. Not when she lay there motionless, her skin pale against the crisp wh
The foundation still looked solid though.I stepped onto the creaky porch, staring at the front door.This was where Charlotte grew up.I felt something tighten in my throat. She probably had good memories here, but I knew the ones she remembered most were the bad ones.I couldn’t imagine what it wa
CAESONI killed the engine of the car and leaned back in my seat, exhaling slowly.It didn’t do anything to relieve the pressure in my chest. The air in the car was thick with silence, the kind that had weight, like it could smother you if you let it.Charlotte hadn’t moved yet. She sat in the back
Like we didn’t matter.My nails dug into my palms as memories slammed into me. I could still see it—the nights he reeked of alcohol, his head lolling to the side, completely oblivious to the fact that he had two daughters who needed him to pick himself up and be… more than the person he was choosing
CHARLOTTEThe car ride was too quiet.Too damn suffocating.The weight of everything that had happened in the span of a few hours pressed down on me—Madeline, the triplets, my father. My hands trembled against my lap, and I clenched them into fists for the umpteenth time, trying to force myself to f
It was only after the shock of silence that followed that I realized I’d spoken those words out loud. Dot gasped, reaching for me instantly, pulling me into an embrace. I didn’t expect it to be as comforting as it was. And so I didn’t fight her. She guided me to the steps outside the hospital, sitt
CHARLOTTE It felt like a slap to the face. The doctor’s words hit me so hard that I lost my footing. My knees wobbled, and before I could steady myself, the plastic cup in my hand slipped through my fingers and crashed onto the tiled floor. Water splashed across my shoes, soaking into the hem of m
CHARLOTTE The reality of the situation hit me with frightening clarity. Madeline was dying. I moved before I could think, panic exploding through my chest as I ran forward and fell to my knees beside her. My hands hovered uselessly, trembling as I tried to find something, anything, to hold o