Four years ago, those words would have
crushed me.
Now, I felt nothing.
“You’re right,” I said.
I turned and walked away, ignoring her yells.
The next morning, Claire was at the
Thompson house.
く
After four years, I was surprised to find that I
didn’t feel anything.
I didn’t feel the need to cling to her like I did
before.
Claire frowned when I just nodded and walked
past her.
“I wouldn’t start playing hard to get,” she
sneered.
I turned around, confused.
4.
Justin walked up and took Claire’s arm.
They stood close together, like a perfect
couple.
Г
No wonder Claire always ignored me and told
Brittany, “Jake’s so clingy.”
She liked Justin.
“Jake, Claire and I are going to study
abroad.”
“I heard you didn’t finish school on the farm,
why? Didn’t your parents treat you well?”
Justin looked concerned and innocent.
Over the years, he liked to show off how
much everyone loved him to get under my
skin.
He didn’t know how many times I was kicked
out and left to die in the cold.
Г
I’m not going to react to his little jabs.
I just want to live.
“No, they didn’t have enough money.”
Ashley suddenly blurted.
“How could they not have money? Mom and
Dad were sending money every month to—”
“Ashley!”
Justin leaned against Claire, looking weak.
“My arm is starting to hurt…”
Claire glared at me.
“Bad luck! My brother’s arm always hurts.
<
She helped Justin leave, shoving me out of
the way.
“Jinx! Get out of the way!”
Claire pushed me aside.
I smiled at the maid’s pitying looks.
I was used to not being loved.
I tried to go out and look for work, but my
folks told me to join them for breakfast.
While talking about studying abroad, my mom.
asked, “Jake, do you want to go with them?”
Justin’s face fell.
“Mom, Jake didn’t finish high school, it’ll be
Г
He shot me a look.
I was supposed to go to the same high school
as Claire.
On the day of the entrance exam, Justin
locked me in the storage room.
I was hit in the head by a falling shelf, and I
missed the exam.
Now, he wants to stop me from getting close
to Claire.
He’s overthinking it.
I wasn’t planning on going.
Before I could say anything, Claire spoke.
<
“You could go to high school over there.”
She stared at me, looking eager.
Justin’s smile faded.
I was confused; wasn’t she always annoyed
when I hung around her?
“Thank you, Mrs. Thompson, but I’ll pass.”
Claire’s face turned dark.
My mom looked at me, but didn’t say
anything.
After searching for two days, I finally found a
job that included room and board.
When I told my parents I was leaving, my dad
glared at me.
“What else do you want? You are going to
threaten to leave to get attention again?”
I said quietly, “I’m not a Thompson, I can’t
just stay here…”
Brittany handed me a card.
“If you really want to leave, Justin’s eyesight
is getting worse because of his kidnapping,
and we need you to donate your cornea.”
So, that’s why they brought me back.
く
Chapter 2
I reached up and touched the one good eye I
had left, and I agreed.
What was one more disability, anyway?
With that money, I could move to another city,
far away from the folks and the Thompsons.
I just wanted to spend my last few years in
peace.
As I was leaving, Ashley and my mom went
into the study.
“Is this the right thing to do…?”
The door shut, and I couldn’t hear anymore.
く
I went to the doctor by myself that afternoon.
After looking at the test results, she wanted
me to have more in–depth testing.
I shook my head.
“I can’t afford that.”
She insisted, so I had to call the Thompsons
to ask for money.
Brittany laughed coldly.
“You’re already spending money like it grows
on trees, are you sure you need this?”
“The doctor wants me to-”
く
Before I could finish, Mom took the phone.
“I sent you the money. You relax, ok? Ah,
never mind…”
Her voice was full of disappointment, and she
obviously thought I wanted to spend money.
I didn’t try to explain, I just quietly thanked
her.
After the tests, I was right.
Because of the awful conditions and abuse, I
had liver cancer.
It was late stage, and it had already spread.
The doctor sighed, sounding sad.
く
Even if you nad two good eyes, you a go
blind if you got a transplant.”
“And your health makes you ineligible for a
transplant.”