A Eternal Love

chapter 6

“True love is not a miracle, it is a blessing.”

A week had passed since the last event, and I still hadn’t spoken to my sister. I know she isn’t fully at fault for what happened, but I can’t shake this sadness and anger inside me. She didn’t take a stand for me—she didn’t even let me stand up for myself. That hurt. What hurts even more is that she’s changed. She isn’t the sister I knew. She feels like a stranger now, and I don’t like this version of her.

To show my gratitude for her so-called transformation, I skipped her dinner party. I know she’s angry, but so am I. Our parents can sense something’s wrong, and though they try to ease the tension, they fail—because they don’t know the full story. Neither of us is going to tell them. Rebecca tried to convince me, but when I didn’t show up, she only grew more upset. She wanted to make peace between me and her fiancé, wanted to tell me how “sorry” they were for everything. But I don’t want their apologies. I don’t want to see their faces ever again. She thinks she can wear me down, but she’s wrong. This grudge is not going away anytime soon.

Now, I’m just sitting on a chair in the porch, lost in my thoughts. I don’t even know what I’m thinking. All I know is that I’m sad. Annoyed. Restless. Missing something. Or maybe I’m just irritated because I’m getting older.

Oh God.

Mom: “Mia, are you even listening? I’ve been calling you. Are you fine?”

Mia: “Yep.”

Mom: “Bella…”

She sits beside me, her voice soft. I know she wants me to open up.

Mom: “You know, sometimes we forgive not for others, but for ourselves.”

I don’t reply. I just hug her tightly.

Mom: “Bella baby, you can tell me anything. I’m always here for you.”

I know she’s telling the truth. She would fight the world if she had to, just to protect us.

Mia: “Nothing, Mom. I’m just… missing Jeremy.”

Mom: “I’m your mom, honey. I know you’re missing him, but I also know you’re sad. Tell me why.”

Mia: “I don’t know, Mom. I just have this weird feeling. Like something is about to change. And I don’t know if I’m ready for it.”

Mom: “You’re never ready for anything in life. You just learn to live with it. I don’t know what’s coming, but I do know one thing—until your father and I are here, nothing bad will happen to you. We’ll always be here. And if this feeling is about that internship, then you don’t need to do it.”

Mia: “Are you my mom, or her doppelganger?”

Mom: “Mia…”

Mia: “You were so excited for this internship. You said I was finally going to do something good with my life. You wanted me to go.”

Mom: “I know what I said. And I do want you to go, because I want you to be independent and happy. But if it’s making you sad, then you don’t have to. I’ll never force my children to do something that breaks them.”

I smile. That’s my mom. She’s always said Dad spoils us, but truth is, she does just as much.

Mia: “I’ll do it.”

Mom: “Really?”

Mia: “Only because it’s compulsory.”

Mom: “If you want, I’ll talk to your dean. I’m sure Miss Forbes will let you skip it.”