Chapter 3

Over the next few days, I lived a life I'd never even dared to dream about.

Aunt Ava took me to get my hair done—wash, cut, blow-dry, the whole works. The stylist said my hair was way too dry, so Aunt Ava just upgraded me to some deep-repair package without even batting an eye.

When we walked out of the salon, Isaac glanced over at me. For once, he didn't run his mouth. "There we go. At least you look like a human being now."

Aunt Ava glared at him, and he immediately backpedaled. "I mean—you look great. You're the prettiest girl I've ever seen."

After that, Aunt Ava took me to the mall and basically bought an entire new wardrobe, underwear and all.

I stood in front of the fitting room mirror, almost not recognizing myself. That little girl in the floral dress with the smooth, shiny hair… Was that really me?

Isaac was slouched in the lounge area playing games on his phone, complaining about how boring it was to wait. But every time I stepped out in a new outfit, he'd look up. Now and then, he'd toss out a comment like "That one works" or "Try a different color".

In the end, I felt so bad that I tugged on Aunt Ava's sleeve. "This is enough. It's way too much…"

She looked down at me, suddenly looking a little tearful. "You silly kid. Other girls your age have closets with dozens of outfits, and you don't even have one decent thing to wear. I'm making up for what you don't have now, and you think it's too much?"

…

On the third morning, while we were having breakfast, Uncle Michael set his cutlery down and looked at me, his tone gentle when he asked, "Crystal, what grade were you in back when you lived with your dad?"

My hand faltered halfway to my mouth. I answered in a small voice, "I was in second grade, but my stepmother told me to stop going for a while because she said money was tight."

He and Aunt Ava exchanged a look. Aunt Ava set her bowl down a little too hard, an ugly look creeping onto her face. "How long have you been out of school?"

"Almost a whole semester."

Uncle Michael took a deep breath, grabbed his phone, and went out to the balcony to make a call that lasted a good ten minutes.

When he came back, he looked calm again. He said, "Next Monday, you'll transfer into Isaac's school and join his class. I've already made all the arrangements."

Isaac burst out of his room, his eyes gleaming. "Really? That's awesome!"

He threw an arm around my shoulders and thumped his chest. "Don't worry, Crystal! I know everyone in our class. If anyone so much as lays a finger on you, I'll be the first one to beat them up!"

Aunt Ava smacked the back of his head. "Cut it out with the fighting."

"How is protecting my cousin 'fighting'? It's called being a hero."

…

That afternoon, Isaac offered to take me downstairs to look around and get familiar with the neighborhood. He took me to the supermarket next to the apartment complex and taught me how to pick snacks like it was serious business.

"Go with the classic potato chips. Salt and vinegar is a crime against humanity. And this brand's spicy beef jerky is unbeatable. That sweet-and-spicy stuff next to it is a total rip-off. Anyone who buys it will regret it."

Then, he brought me to the small park by our building and pointed at the swing. "No one comes out here around this time. You can hog it as long as you want."

I sat on the swing while he stood behind me, giving me gentle pushes. The breeze was warm and soft against my face.

On the way home, Isaac suddenly stopped walking and looked at me with unusual seriousness.

"Crystal, you shouldn't go back to your dad's place anymore. Mom has a sharp tongue, but she really does care about you. Dad, too. He doesn't talk much, but he notices everything. So just stay here, and stop being so on edge all the time. This is your home now. No matter who shows up, you don't have to be scared of them."

I nodded hard, my nose stinging. "Okay. I'm never going back."

He smiled and shoved the last lollipop into my hand. "Come on. Let's go home for dinner."

That night, I lay in a soft bed with the giant teddy bear in my arms, convinced I was the happiest person in the world.

What I didn't know was that happiness sometimes arrived all at once, only for life to come along and knock it right out of one's hands.