When girls like us fall, there’s no one to catch us. Least of all that boy for whom we’ve taken the fall.
We’re the girls with secrets and witchy hearts. We’re the girls who listen to sad songs. Who slow dance to them with tears streaming down our faces, even as a smile lingers on our lips. Who cry in our pillows at night and who ride our sunshine-yellow bicycle along the empty, desolate, miserable places, where no one goes.
We’re the girls who run away in the middle of the night.
Like I was doing.
Because I’d overheard a conversation between Leah and him. Well, only Leah’s side of it, but I heard enough to understand that Arrow was getting ready to propose to Sarah. He’d bought a ring and everything.
That’s when I decided to run.
Because they’re getting married.
Married.
I mean, I always knew that they would. But something about the talk of a ring really shook me up.
Arrow was going to propose to my sister.
She would obviously say yes, and they’d have a wedding day. Kids and a family.
Like a voyeur, I’ve been there for every moment of their love story.
I’ve watched them fall in love. I’ve watched thembein love for years. I’ve watched them go out on dates, go to the prom together. I’ve watched them hanging out together in the backyard. I’ve heard them whisper and talk out in the hallway, just by my bedroom. I’ve watched them leave for California. I’ve watched them when they’d come to visit over the holidays.
I’ve watched it all like the worst sister in the world.
I’ve watchedhimlike the worst sister in the world.
I’ve watched him, craved him,lovedhim in secret.
I’d been the witch long enough. I had to do the right thing and get my toxic presence out of their lives.
Beforethey got married.
Right that very second.
And that’s why I stole that money and I was running away.
But I got caught and now, I’m stuck here.
Until another opportunity arises.
When it does, I’ll take it. I’ll steal again and I’ll run again.
I’m not a thief but there are worse crimes than stealing money.
There’s no way that I’m staying close to them any longer. And I’m definitely not attending their wedding.
Not at all.
Because aside from the fact that their wedding should be full of people whose hearts are pure, there’s this other thing, this other urge in me.
A very strong urge.
A dangerous urge.
I got it the moment I heard the word ‘ring.’ I got it the moment it dawned on me that he was going to be hers.
