Chapter 3
“You were there. You know it wasn’t me, it was Emma who-”
Before I could finish, Noah whipped his head around and hissed: “Shut up!”
His voice frightened me, and I shrank into the corner.
Somehow, I’d become extremely sensitive to voices, to others‘ emotions. Disgust, contempt, anger–they all made me tremble.
“I’m sorry…” I stammered.
But Noah’s face grew even colder as he said quietly: “My sister was always timid. We’re finally having a decent Christmas, so don’t cause trouble. Does it really matter who started the fire?”
He spoke as if I wasn’t his sister too.
I touched my bony frame and nodded, “I won’t tell anyone.”
Noah’s expression softened slightly. “Come in and eat. Mom and Dad asked me to get you.”
I looked down and shook my head.
“Can you give me some money? I need to buy medicine.”
Noah’s face went cold again, his eyes filled with disgust.
“Don’t you have any conscience? You finally come home and all you do is ask for money?”
Even as he spoke, he pulled some bills from his pocket and threw them at me.
I showed no emotion as I bent down to pick up the money.
Noah clenched his fist, apparently even angrier.
“You’re pathetic. I’m humiliating you like this, and you don’t even fight back?” He said coldly.
I guess the old me would have angrily fought with him. But this time I ignored him.
Suddenly, my abdomen cramped violently. My period had started, but I’d just drunk ice–cold water from the ground…
“Could I have some hot water, please? I’m begging you….” I clutched my belly, tears welling in my eyes.
Seeing me suddenly vulnerable, Noah smiled, his face showing a hint of satisfaction.
He said nothing, just strode inside and slammed the door.
“She refused to come, no matter what!” I heard him announce loudly through the door.
The cramping intensified, cold sweat dripping from my forehead. A violent wave of nausea rose from my stomach.
My calves began to spasm, and I fell to my knees, then passed out.
Through the haze, I thought I glimpsed their panicked expressions.
When I woke up, the smell of disinfectant filled my nostrils as I stared at a white ceiling.
The nurse smiled and said cheerfully: “You’re awake!”
I nodded and asked: “Who brought me here?”
12:48
Burnt Beauty, Family Beasts
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Chapter 3
“Your family,” she answered.
My feelings were complicated. They actually… brought me to the hospital?
Suddenly, the nurse seemed to want to say something but hesitated. After a pause, she patted my hand reassuringly but said nothing
“What is it?” I asked, confused.
She hurriedly replied: “Oh, nothing. You’re just very weak. We just gave you a bottle of glucose.”
“You’re too thin. You need to eat more,” she added, looking at my wrist with concern before leaving.
I lay back down as tears suddenly streamed from my eyes. I wiped them frantically, but they wouldn’t stop.
Crying, I fell asleep. I’d slept so peacefully for the first time in ages–warm and safe–that although I was awake, I didn’t move.
Later, the nurse came to change my dressings. She tucked my blanket around me and whispered to someone else.
“I know, right? Their youngest kid was throwing a tantrum about wanting to eat at a restaurant, so they just left this girl at the hospital. I’ve never seen such terrible parents. I mean, they could eat anytime, couldn’t they?”
My heart ached.
Hadn’t I decided not to care about them anymore? Why did it still hurt?
I silently asked myself.
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