Chapter 1
My whole life has been stuck on silent mode. The reason?
My little sister Stella has depression, and according to our family doctor, even a sneeze could apparently
send her into a total spiral.
So no laughing in the house. No crying in pain.
Couldn’t even scream when I got hurt.
Mom and Dad would always pull me aside with guilty looks:
“You’re such a good girl, sweetheart. Helping Stella get better is a family effort. You’re the strong one-just
be patient with her, okay?”
However, that day, I accidentally knocked over my water glass.
The crash immediately sent Stella into a complete meltdown.
For the first time ever, Dad lost it on me.
‘Can’t you be more careful? What, you trying to kill her?!”
He shoved me hard. I hit the floor, causing my head slamming into the corner of the coffee table.
Blood started pooling beneath me.
Yet everyone was only swarming around my screaming sister. Nobody looked at me.
I lay there on the cold hardwood, feeling everything fade to black.
They all figured Stella’s breakdown was the real emergency. My little head injury could wait.
But, too bad, brain bleed? It will kill people in any SECOND.
Jay there on the cold floor, sharp pain pulsing through the back of my skull,
Warm blood trickled down my neck, pooling into a small dark puddle on the hardwood,
“Can’t you be more careful? What, you won’t be happy until you drive her over the edge?”
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Chapter 1
Dad’s voice was still ringing in my ears.
The bleeding was getting worse.
On the couch, my sister Stella curled into a ball, hands pressed tight over her ears, letting out piercing
screams:
“She did it on purpose! She’s trying to kill me! Make her go away! Go away!”
Mom dropped to her knees in front of her, rubbing her back and whispering:
“It’s okay, baby, it’s okay. Mommy’s here. The mean sister is gone now.”
I tried to push myself up, but a wave of dizziness hit me and I collapsed back down.
My vision started going black around the edges, darkness creeping in.
“Dad… Mom…” My voice came out barely a whisper.
Nobody turned around.
My vision kept getting hazier, and memories started flashing through my mind.
I’d been practically running home that day, clutching my honor roll certificate.
“Mom, I got-“I burst through the front door, breathless with excitement.
Mom frantically grabbed the certificate from my hands and shoved it into a drawer.
‘Riley, don’t let your sister see this.”
She lowered her voice, “You know how it is. Your good grades trigger her.”
I stood frozen in the doorway, still holding my hand out, my smile dying.
“But Mom, this is my first time making honor roll!” My voice cracked.
“My teacher said I could get into any school…”
“You’re such a good girl, sweetheart.” Mom touched my hair, guilt in her eyes.
“Helping Stella get better is a family effort. You’re the strong one, the healthy one. Just keep being patient with her, okay?”
I nodded and went to my room, choking down all that hurt.
Chapter 1
The blood pool on the floor kept spreading.
My breathing turned shallow, white spots flashing across my vision.
‘Mom, I’m hurt!” I reached out weakly.
Mom finally looked over, but annoyed. “Riley, not now. Can’t you see Stella’s having a breakdown? We’ll
deal with it in a minute.”
Stella’s screaming got louder. “Make her go away! I hate her!”
She grabbed a mug from the coffee table and threw it at the wall.
t shattered everywhere.
Dad rushed over to her like she was made of glass.
Stella, baby, Daddy’s here. You’re okay.” His voice went all soft.
That mean sister can’t hurt you anymore.”
My fingers scraped weakly across the hardwood, only leaving a bloody smear.
20:02
My Angel Sister Bleed for Attention. Then SHE BLEED for REAL
hapter 2