DESCENDED

BURDEN

After school, I break the news to Samuel that I can't go to the Winter Ball with him. And he mocks me for listening to Sebastian instead of thinking for myself. Because now I'm kicking him to the curb for reasons I don't even understand.

Except, there was something in Sebastian's eyes that told me to not just trust him, but to heed his warning. There are so many things happening in my life, and so many things I don't trust. But of all those things, Sebastian is someone I trust implicitly. And deep down something is telling me things are not what they seem.

"When you're done with your homework, I want you to clean the kitchen," Aunt Sarah pokes her head into my room to tell me.

"I thought it was Anna's day," I reply.

"Consider it a punishment for what happened at school," she snaps at me.

"Yes ma'am."

I put the finishing touches on my last homework assignment, then I head into the kitchen. Which is a complete disaster. And I clean it.

Sebastian and Anna come walking in ten minutes later, rubbing salt into the gaping wound I already have in my chest. Making me rethink turning Samuel down.

I listen while my aunt, uncle, Anna, and Alex have bible study in the living room without me. Wondering what God would do in a situation like mine.

"I thought it was Anna's day to do the dishes," Alex frowns. Leaning against the island in the kitchen.

"It is, but I'm being punished for sending risky photos of myself to every boy on campus," I tell him.

"I know you would never do anything like that. That has Anna written all over it. But she has my parents believing she's some sort of saint."

"It's okay. I'm used to being let down. I just... I really thought it would be different this time."

My eyes tear up and I stop what I'm doing to fight them back. Wiping them away with my sleeve when I can't.

"Here, let me help you," Alex offers.

His kindness is the only thing keeping me sane in this house. He washes the dishes, even though he hates washing dishes, and then he helps me put them away. Afterward, I head up to my room. I think about sneaking out into the woods but change my mind. I don't want to give Aunt Sarah another reason to want me gone.

"Angelique," my aunt calls out for me through the door.

I open it, and she hands me my laundry. After thanking her, I wait for her to leave so I can close the door, but she doesn't.

She's still standing here.

"Can we talk?" She asks.

"Yeah," I let her in. "Sure."

She sits down on my bed and waits for me to put my clothes away. When I'm done, I turn around to face her, bracing myself for what she has to say.

"I'm trying really hard to understand you, but I think I've failed you somewhere along the way. I mean... lying about the perfume bottle, throwing away perfectly good food, and then the video. I don't know how to reach you," she says. But she won't look at me. Which is never a good sign. "I was talking to Cliff, and we both have concluded that, as much as we wanted things to workout, they're not. I'm running out of ways to help you, and I'm starting to wonder if it's family you need, or maybe something else. Like counseling."

There are tears in her eyes. Which tells me she's hurting as much as I am. Only, this isn't my fault. But none of that matters because she's sending me away again.