Chapter 1

At my birthday party, Norah Riley left behind a letter and disappeared from home.

Her letter read: [I'm returning the place I took from Serena. Mom, Luke, I love you both.]

Ever since then, everyone had seen me as the one who forced Norah to leave.

Mom kept blaming me for coming back, never hiding her resentment.

My brother, Luke Riley, acted as if he'd rather see me dead.

Eventually, Norah returned.

However, they sobbed uncontrollably in front of my grave as they begged me to forgive them.

*****

The day I found out I didn't have much time left was my birthday.

The harsh glare of the hospital's fluorescent lights stung my eyes as I walked down the hallway.

The doctor looked at me with pity. "Do you want me to call your family?"

I opened my mouth, and my voice was dry. "No, thanks."

As I stepped out of the hospital, I looked up at the sky.

It was a dull, gray mess, like even the sun couldn't be bothered to break through the clouds.

Family? If they knew I was dying, they'd probably throw a party.

I let out a bitter laugh, their words echoing in my ears, "Go to hell."

I bought a cake without thinking, plopped down on the curb, and struck a match.

I muttered under my breath, "Happy birthday to me. Happy birthday to me..." letting the words drift off into the night.

Suddenly, a pair of chubby hands appeared in front of me, holding a tiny white flower.

A little girl smiled at me. "Happy birthday to you!"

Her mom watched from a short distance as the little girl gently tucked the flower into my hair, then shyly ran off.

I reached up, stunned, and the soft petals touched something deep inside me. Tears spilled down my cheeks before I could stop them.

Ever since I turned fifteen, no one ever wished me a happy birthday again.

That was the day Norah left home.

From then on, my birthday turned into a taboo at home.

That tiny bit of kindness from a stranger felt like sunlight warming up my frozen heart.

I wondered if being alive was so terrible.

When I walked in the door, all the laughter and chatter in the house stopped dead.

The air was thick with oppressive silence.

The tiny bit of happiness I felt was crushed by the cold reality.

Mom and Luke's eyes were like cold knives, cutting right through me.

The only reason I was still under their roof was our blood tie, but Mom made no secret of how much she despised me.

I was about to slip away to my room as usual, but Luke blocked my way.

I nervously clutched the edge of my shirt, my heart pounding.

His eyes were blazing as he pointed at my hair and barked, "What's that?"

That was when I realized the little flower was still tucked in my hair.

I paused, and then quietly said, "A little girl gave me this flower for my birthday..."

Luke cut me off. "You actually have the nerve to celebrate your birthday?"

His eyes were red with rage as he yanked the flower from my hair, threw it to the ground, and crushed it under his foot.

He snapped, "You drove Norah away, and you still have the guts to celebrate your birthday? What right do you have?"

The flower was ground into dust beneath his foot, and it felt like my heart shattered right along with it.

Luke glared at me with disgust. "Just remember, you'll never measure up to Norah."

Mom's brows drew together in a deep frown, disappointment and blame written all over her face as she spoke, her voice sharp with emotion.

She fumed. "Today's the anniversary of Norah going missing. She could be dead, and you still have the nerve to celebrate? What is wrong with you?"

I whispered, "I'm sorry..."

Mom's eyes filled with tears. "Why did you come back? If it weren't for you, Norah wouldn't have left..."

They were the ones who asked me to come home.

But somehow, it was all my fault.

"Mom, let's go," Luke said.

They turned and walked out, slamming the door behind them.

I stood there alone.

I crouched down and gently picked up the crushed petals off the ground.

Tears slipped silently down my face.

I didn't understand why it still hurt.

I should have been used to this.

When I first came back home, my family still treated me with some warmth.

I remembered that day so vividly. When the police forced open the door and found me, Mom broke down in tears.

Her hands were trembling as she hugged me tightly, her tears instantly soaking my shoulder.

Mom sobbed, "My baby, you've suffered so much."

Her eyes were blurred with tears as she choked on her words.

At that moment, I felt a comfort I'd never experienced before.

Mom told me I had a brother, Luke, and a sister, Norah.

"Luke's swamped with work, so he can't come pick you up, but he got you a gift," she said.

There was a flicker of guilt in her voice, so faint that I almost missed it.

Back then, I actually believed Luke was just too busy to make it.

Now, thinking about it, maybe he just never wanted to see me at all.

They set me up in a warm, inviting room.

Norah came over to apologize.

"Sorry, Luke couldn't pick you up because he was at my violin competition. If you want to blame someone, blame me," she said softly.

Mom's cover story fell apart instantly.

But I was too wrapped up in the joy of finally being home to notice any of it.

Norah pulled out a necklace.

There were faint initials, "N.R.," engraved on it. Norah's name was barely visible.

Norah smiled at me, her eyes full of hope. "This is my gift for you, to keep you safe. Let me put it on for you."

Not wanting to disappoint her kindness, I nodded.