8

As soon as I got home, I could no longer support myself. I sat down against the wall, and tears streamed down uncontrollably as a wave of despair rushed over me.

I knew that Stella did it on purpose. I understood it the moment she grabbed my wrist and tore off the bracelet.

But so much had happened in that moment that I couldn't react in time.

Tears kept flowing, dropping in beads onto the broken bracelet.

Just when I had managed to overcome the emotions of losing my parents, the bracelet shattered, and with it, my parents' only keepsake, disappeared completely.

In that moment, it felt like I had lost everything.

I don't know how long I cried, or perhaps I cried until exhaustion, but I lay on the couch, staring blankly at the shattered bracelet.

I didn't even notice when Zac returned.

"Anna, don't think that just because my mom likes you, you can do whatever you want.

"Don't play tricks on her, she can't outwit you. If this kind of situation happens again, I'll..."

"What will you d