my sister wer

made a small, hopeful feeling flutter in my chest. For weeks, I had imagined this moment. I woul

e, things woul

ing. My mom, Sarah, got out first. She looked beautiful, just like in the pictures s

se. She looked like a doll, with a bra

. She fussed over her, making sure her d

Was the trip too long for you?" s

rittany' s hair. "Our litt

y didn' t seem to notice me. The hop

up and saw me. Her sm

oe. You'

ned. It wasn' t even a real gr

earing a clean but faded T-shirt and jeans that Grandma had bought for m

e pointed a small, d

looks like a

small, tired smile. The words didn't feel like a joke. They felt like

g to get closer, to feel like part

my voice small.

ut, hoping

ssive gesture. "Yes, well, we' re her

ng her into the house as if she were a visiting princess. My dad gave me a nod and started un

tanding quietly in the background, watching everything. She

he whispered, her voice firm. "Th

ing over a new music box Brittany had gotten. T

"Aren' t you going to say a proper hello to yo

face. "Of course, Mom. We' re just getting sett

a request. Not the lovin

ey were stressed. I just had to be better. I had to be more helpful, more obedient, m

ld be the best daughter they could