lat. The numbness was returning, a welcome

been difficult. You made everyone uncomfortable at the party. Just go down, say you' re sorr

rson with feelings or dreams. I was a problem to be managed. The love I thought was unconditional from my mother was, I now realized, entirely conditional on me be

as a small word, but

, shocked. "Wha

I' m not ap

her cheek. "Mom, what' s taking so long? Everyone' s asking where you are." She saw the look on my face and her

her voice syrupy sweet. She took a step cl

I said, my hand closing

"And since Avery didn' t get me anything... I think it' s only fair that she g

s a new level of cruelty, a calculated strike

, looking at my mother, pleading with

n. But Chloe was her new husband' s daughter, the win

d. "It' s just a piece of jewelry. Don' t b

me my voice was

pped. "Give it to me,"

Her fingers clawed at my hand, trying to pry

I shouted, trying

n by the noise. They took in the scene in an instant-Ch

n asked, but his eyes were

e cried, her voice filled with fake tears. "I j

lp me!" Ch

he headboard. His grip was strong, unyielding. The charm was gone, replaced by something u

d!" I struggled against h

k, his actions efficient and detached. This was the boy who used to share his lunch with me when I forgot mine, the one who would walk me home after late pract

he chain caught on my sweater, and with an impatient yank, she ripped it free. The delicate silver chain snapped. T

chipped off. A deep scratch marre

nside me br

n in my arm where Chloe' s nails had dug in. As my fingers closed around the broken silver, Chloe, in a fit of rage that I was still fighting back, kicked out. Her heel caught m