Meredith's sister

18

Mia's POV

I woke up and, for the first time in a while, I felt like I could leave my room. I took a long, hot shower, letting the water wash away the exhaustion that had settled deep in my bones. Afterward, I changed into a pair of shorts and one of Teddy's old T-shirts. Just wearing it made my heart ache.

I made my way downstairs, where Meredith, Alex, and Jackson were sitting in the living room. "Hi," I said softly. They all turned to look at me.

"Mia, how are you?" Jackson asked, concern evident in his eyes.

"I'm fine," I lied.

"Can I talk to you alone?" Meredith asked. I nodded, following her into the kitchen.

"What's up?" I asked, leaning against the counter.

"I'm pregnant," Meredith said, her voice a mix of nervousness and excitement.

A genuine smile crossed my face. "I'm so happy for you," I said, pulling her into a hug. She hugged me back tightly, and for a brief moment, I felt warmth spread through my chest.

Later, I went out to grab some food and ended up sitting in a park, sipping my coffee. I had $15 million in my bank account, and I had no idea what to do with it. Money couldn't fix what was broken inside me.

With Meredith and Callie working a full shift today, I was in charge of Sofia and Zola. They were the sweetest babies, and playing with them gave me a rare sense of peace. Eventually, they both fell asleep, so I gently placed them in the kids' room. When they woke up, I spent more time entertaining them, making them laugh. But the moment Callie and Meredith returned, they took the girls without even acknowledging me. Not even a simple 'hi.'

I turned on some music and started dancing, trying to shake off the sadness pressing against my chest. A few minutes later, I heard the door open and saw April, Jackson, and Alex walk in.

"Wow, okay, you seem happy," Alex said, raising an eyebrow.

I shook my head. "Come on, guys," I said, motioning for them to join me. April and Jackson joined in, but Alex just rolled his eyes and went upstairs. We danced until we were breathless, collapsing onto the couch in laughter.

"That actually made me feel better," I admitted.

"Yeah, me too," Jackson agreed.

Later that night, when the house was quiet, my mind turned dark again. I wanted to sleep and never wake up. Instead, I changed into something more presentable and went out to a bar. I ordered vodka and sat in the corner, nursing my drink.

That's when I noticed an older man dragging a young woman outside. My stomach twisted with unease. I got up, paid my bill, and followed them to the back alley. The man was trying to force himself on her, his pants halfway undone.

"Hey! Get away from her!" I shouted.

He turned to look at me, eyes dark and full of malice. "No."

He turned back toward the girl, and I had no choice. I grabbed him and threw him to the ground, my fists flying before I could think. He scrambled up and ran away, disappearing into the night.

I turned to the girl, who was trembling. "Hey, are you okay? Did he touch you?" I asked gently.

She looked down and nodded.

I extended my hand. "Come with me."

Hesitantly, she took my hand and stood up. She was young, too young, and painfully thin.

"How old are you?" I asked.

"Sixteen," she whispered.

"Let's get you home," I said.