Chapter 14. Reality Check

14. Reality Check

This Chapter is dedicated to CAROLINE CABALUNA... Thank you for your support <3

"Astrid!!" Sky tried to correct himself when he saw my reaction, but the damage had already been done. How could my own brother humiliate me in front of my face?

When I looked into the future and expected Skylar to be by my side, Lance was the one who seemed more likely to lose his cool and vent his anger on anyone. I had always feared that one of my brothers might abandon me, but I never expected Skylar to be the first.

"Don't. Stay away from me," I said, motioning with my hand to get him to stop.

Tears that I had been holding back for so long in order to prove my strength finally broke free and began to flow from my eyes.

I felt duped. I knew Skylar had his concerns about my feelings for Edward, but I didn't expect he'd use them against me.

"Just because you have a mate and are living the life you've always wanted doesn't mean you make fun of my emotions," I said, disgusted.

"What do you mean I have everything I worked for it wasn't given to me for free?" he retorted, irritated.

"I know you did. You both did," I responded, pointing to Lance and Skylar. "But so did I, but I was never given credit for it, and don't act like I'm living my life on your earnings; I earn my own stuff," I retorted angrily.

"What exactly do you want now, Astrid?" Sky stroked his brow.

"Sky, you should know that what you're doing to me will come back to haunt you. Everyone knows that Karma is a bitch, and they will all regret treating me this way one day. I was not the kind of cursing people, but my family always managed to bring out the worst in me.

I believe in Karma and that what you do, good or bad, will come back to you multiplied, but I never said anything to my family because I didn't want them to be in trouble. I used to think that no matter what,  at the end of the day they are my family, but judging by the way they treat me, God forbid I would end up killing myself.

"Astrid, are you listening to yourself?" Skylar yelled.

"Stay away from me, you all," I said as I began to back away.

"Where are you going?" they said as they approached me, but I was quick to flee.

The day had started brightly, but it was now pouring rain. I didn't mind getting wet; I was running from my problems.

I noticed them retreating to the house because it was raining, but I knew they were there to get an umbrella or anything so they could sprint after me.

I went to my treehouse, my rain-soaked clothes soaking the wacky floor I'd built.

I buried my face in the little pillow in one corner and sobbed uncontrollably. How can they even think about it now that I've become such a burden? Just because he's found his mate, he's making fun of my emotions, which I've loved my entire life. If not totally, I had moved on from Edward, but Sky had no right to mock my feelings.

The walls I'd built around myself were growing stronger due to the people surrounding me. I had learned not to let anyone breach those defenses.

This generosity has gotten me nowhere, and everyone ends up using me for their own purposes. Nobody will play with your feelings if you are heartless.

I am a loner who does not require the company of others. I had walked through every stage of my life alone since there was no one to advise me on living it and making the most of it. Even if I haven't figured out how to make the most of my life, I can still live on my own.

"You don't need anyone, Astrid. Even when you're at your lowest, you don't need anyone to recall how you made yourself proud many times. You graduated on your own even if nobody was to cheer you up," I told myself.

Yes, when everyone's parents were present to show how happy they were with their children, I was left alone, despite having topped every subject.

I anticipated seeing my brothers there, but they excused themselves, citing their busy schedules, which I believe was mainly for me because they had plenty of time to plan activities with their mates.

I don't mind that they are their mates, and they deserve all the happiness in the world from my brother, but they could at least check in on me once in a while, and maybe they even forgot that they had a sister who no one likes.

I was standing alone with the degree in my hands. Nobody was there to clap for me or take pictures of me when I reached new heights of accomplishment.

Everything is so messed up. It makes me never want to see their faces again.

I've determined that I don't want to live in a world where I have to rely on the decisions of others.

Either I'm going to be the one to call tabs, or I'm not going to have this life at all.

Now I'm sure there's a cliff in the distance that's in the forbidden territory. I'm going to jump off that cliff.

If I don't have the strength to jump off it, I will at least try, and if I don't have the power to do so, I will make sure that I leave this place and start living with humans.

I can't do that until I have all of my belongings with me. To do so, I need to sneak into that hell hole, take my belongings and whatever money I had saved, and flee.

I was disturbed when I left the house, and it never occurred to me to gather my belongings and flee this area.

That is plan B, which I am positive will not work since if I go home, I have little to no chance of getting out of there, leaving me with no alternative but to carry out the first plan.

With that decision made, I stood up and exited the treehouse.

It was still pouring outside, but I ignored it and walked toward the cliff. The rain continued to pour, but I pushed forward, my clothes soaked and cold.

Regardless of how messed up your life has been, thinking about dying will scare the crap out of you.

This is it; Thinking about dying terrified me, regardless of how messed up my life was. I was too much of a coward to attempt suicide.

Suddenly, my panic dissipated, and a new sense of peace took over my body. My heart was beating wildly inside my chest.

When I got close to the cliff, I noticed that someone was already there, his back faced towards me

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _