Crossings in the Barren Years

Jade’s POV

On the way to drop Sienna Yates off at home, she suddenly said, “Thank you, Garrett. I had a really good time today.”

A flash of surprise lit up Garrett Logan’s eyes. Even his voice turned lighter.

“That’s all that matters. I brought you out so you could enjoy yourself.”

He kept his eyes on her the entire time, right up until she got out of the car and went inside.

And me?

I was covered in dirt, my forehead still bleeding, the wound untreated.

He didn’t so much as glance at me once.

The car started moving again.

I stayed silent the whole ride. It wasn’t until we stopped at a red light that he finally spoke.

“Are you mad?”

A drop of blood slid from my forehead onto the back of my hand. Only then did Garrett hand me a tissue.

He tapped the steering wheel and watched the countdown at the stoplight.

“I didn’t have a choice. Sienna’s autism has been getting worse.

“She only seems to feel better when she sees… this version of you.”

As he said it, his eyes filled with pity and guilt.

“I’ve known her since we were kids. When her parents died, they asked me—right before the end—to take care of her.”

As if he thought I wouldn’t believe him, he pulled a stack of medical reports from his bag.

“Look, even her therapist said recently—”

“So as long as she’s happy, it doesn’t matter if I die?”

I turned away and cut him off.

Garrett froze. The rest of his words caught in his throat, and for a moment, he couldn’t say anything at all.

Cars behind us started honking.

He snapped back to himself, hit the gas, then pulled out his phone and transferred me money.

“For your sister’s medical bills next month.

“Jade, I just need you to be a little more understanding.”

I lowered my eyes to the lit screen in my hand.

I opened my chat history with Garrett.

As I scrolled, there were only a handful of actual conversations.

Mostly, it was transfer after transfer.

Payment after payment.

For ten years, every time it involved Sienna, he used money to silence whatever I might have felt.

“There. You accepted the money, so let’s just move on.

“I’ll take you to the hospital and get you checked out.”

Same as always.

Garrett brushed past what happened today as if it were nothing.

A chill spread through my body. I opened my mouth, wanting to say something.

But when the words reached my lips, I realized there was no point.

We had been together for ten years. He had taken up most of my life.

And yet none of that time had ever felt like it belonged to me.

Silence filled the car again.

Then a shrill ringtone shattered it. Garrett glanced at the caller ID and slammed on the brakes.

I lurched forward and hit the window.

Pain exploded through my forehead as blood smeared across the glass.

“Where are you? I’m coming right now!”

His voice tightened instantly. There was only one person who could make him panic like that.

Sienna.

He turned to look at me.

“Jade, the hospital’s not far from here. You can go by yourself.”

My head throbbed. My chest felt tight, like I couldn’t fully breathe in or let anything out.

“Isn’t there anyone else with her? Does it have to be you?

“My head is killing me. If you have to go, can’t you at least drop me off at the hospital first?”

But Garrett wasn’t listening to a word I said.

He simply reached over and unlocked the doors.

“I don’t have time to argue with you right now. Get out first.”

My hand hanging at my side had gone numb.

After I pushed open the door and stepped out, the car sped off, throwing dust into my eyes.