35

Ciara Mendes

The two women seated before me made me feel uncomfortable in my own skin. Their piercing gray eyes scrutinized me from head to toe.

My mother stood from her seat as soon as her shock wore off. "Ciara, I didn't expect you to actually show up."

It had been so long since I last saw her. Her dark hair, which once matched the lengths of my own and Bridget's, now rested neatly above her shoulders in a stylish bob. She carried herself with an air of high prestige, and the glow of a good life practically radiated from her.

"I'm so glad you came," Bridget said, rising to her feet with a smile that I didn’t return.

I watched as my older sister awkwardly brushed away imaginary wrinkles from her white pantsuit before sitting back down. My mother quickly followed suit and then gestured for me to take a seat.

"You wanted to see me," I said as soon as I felt the chair beneath me. "Wait just a minute, Ciara. Let's order first," Bridget replied, her tone a mix of eagernes