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Hidden agendas
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2021-09-03 13:09:30Taran holds my hand as we sit at the table across from Dave and Cindy. My parents sit at the ends of the table. In a soft voice, my mother says, “We all need to keep calm and discuss things like adults. Tru, I expect you to speak with respect. Dave, I expect you to listen to your sister and consider her feelings. We all need to come to an understanding. This tension cannot continue.”
Dave and I are silent. Neither of us want to say anything. Cindy is the first to say anything, “I don’t understand why you’re so cruel to me, Tru. I have done nothing but try to be your friend.” I suppress the need to scoff and roll my eyes. Keeping my face neutral, I try to imagine this is practice when I’m Taran’s queen, and we hold court. Cindy continues, “It’s hard being an outsider.” She looks over at Taran, “I’m sure it’s different for you since you’re dating the golden child.”
“Gold
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TaranThe talk with Tru’s brother and Cindy went better than I expected. David didn’t seem to make any progress, but I convinced Bill that Cindy wanted to hurt Tru without a doubt. He slid his phone to me and asked if I would take a picture of Cindy’s face while he pretended to scold Tru.When Tru realized her father wasn’t upset with her, I felt the tension leave her body. I think she knew Cindy poisoned the relationship between her and David but didn’t expect that Cindy also wanted to ruin her relationship with her parents.Once we get back into Tru’s room to pack our things, I ask, “Do you have anything of significant value in your room? Jewels, family heirlooms, or anything that someone would want to steal?”Tru thinks for a moment, “No. I have my grandmother’s pink pearls, but they are in my mother’s safety deposit box. Outside of the necklace you made me, my other jewelry is only wort
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The room is pitch black. There is no light anywhere. I hear something creak, but I can’t look around or figure its direction. Footsteps shuffle closer, but I can’t tell where they are.Suddenly, I feel something pierce my chest. It’s painful. I try to scream, but nothing comes out when I open my mouth. I begin to feel cold and can’t move my body. It sounds like someone is crying, but I can’t hear them. Between the cold and pain, I can’t focus on anything else. It becomes difficult to breathe. I start gasping for air and struggle for the slightest bit of oxygen.My eyes pop open, and I try to catch my breath. I sit up in bed and pull the blanket tighter around me. Looking over at the clock, I find it is only one in the morning. I let out a sigh and lay back down in hopes of trying to fall back asleep.The lighting crystals on my nightstand are flashing red. Concerned, I pick them up, “What’s wrong?”One
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