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Faraway Wilds

Faraway Wilds

Short Story · Emotional Realism
By:  Sweet Tea NiniCompleted
Language: English
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10Chapters
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Synopsis

Remorse Family

Bias

Familial Bond

Ruthless

Campus

Childhood Sweethearts

Plot Twists

When college applications opened, everyone gathered around my younger twin sister, Maddison Sullivan. Our older brother, Tyler Sullivan, pointed at the top university on the list. "Obviously, you're applying to Crestview University. You'll be my little sister on campus, and I will look out for you." Our childhood friend, Brandon Carter, slid another brochure across the table. "Ignore him. Come to Kingston in Arlington instead. We can spend another four years together." Mom and Dad smiled in agreement. "Being in Arlington would be perfect. You'll have people taking care of you there, and we'll have peace of mind." Only after a long while did they remember I had taken the SAT, too. "Your score isn't as good as Maddie's. Just pick any school in Arlington." Tyler didn't even look up as he added, "That way all four of us will be in the same city. We can get together on weekends." Brandon sighed impatiently. "There's only half an hour left before submissions close. Don't be careless and forget something again." I tightened my grip on the application guide. When they played make-believe as children, Maddison was always the princess everyone rushed to rescue. Tyler was the loyal knight willing to die for her, while Brandon was the prince who would cross mountains and oceans to save her. And I was always cast as the wicked witch no one wanted. It turned out growing up hadn't changed anything at all. If no one wanted me around, then I would choose the school farthest from home. From now on, mountains and miles would stand between us.

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Janel Goins
Janel Goins
Amazing book!
2026-07-28 23:53:21
2
0
10 Chapters
Chapter 1
When I didn't answer right away, my childhood friend, Brandon Carter, urged me on. "Maddie and I both put down Crestview University. Hurry up and pick a school in Arlington."I stared at the number on my screen.1560.There wasn't a trace of joy in me.I'd outperformed myself on the SAT. My score was higher than every practice test I'd taken before.The two elite universities they'd just spent so long discussing?I qualified for both of them.But after the SAT ended, no one had asked how I'd done. When the scores were released, no one cared how many points I'd earned.Because the moment Maddison Sullivan walked out of the testing center, she'd burst into tears. "I don't think I performed very well this time. What if I messed everything up?"Mom and Dad told her the SAT wasn't that important anyway. If she wanted, they could always pay to send her overseas.My brother, Tyler Sullivan, waved a dismissive hand. "What's there to worry about? Big bro is here to make enough money t
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Chapter 2
After we'd finished submitting our applications, Mom and Dad each sent Maddison and me a cash gift.The moment Maddison opened hers, she wrapped herself around Mom's arm with a grin. "I knew Mom loved me the most."Then, out of habit, she turned to me. "How much did Dad send you?"I opened the transfer notification and answered flatly, "$200."Maddison lit up instantly. Even so, she still put on the act of being the thoughtful little sister. "Mom and Dad were probably worried you'd spend money recklessly, so they transferred the full $20,000 to me instead. If there's anything you want to buy later, just tell me."Mom reached over and tapped the tip of her nose affectionately."That money is your reward for scoring 1480 on the SAT. Spend it however you want."Then she turned toward me. "As for you, I don't even want to talk about a score in the 1300s. You've always lagged behind your sister. Once you get to college, you can't afford to slack off."Maddison immediately grabbed Mo
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Chapter 3
After that tasteless dinner, Brandon showed up at our front door carrying two cold mango smoothies.One was for Maddison, the other was for me.Maddison took a sip and immediately gave him a thumbs-up. "You really do get me. In the middle of summer like this, cold drinks are the best."I wrapped my hands around the cup, feeling the chill seep slowly from my palms into my chest.Before Brandon met Maddison, he'd once told me he had an older brother, too—the kind of brother who was so brilliant that nobody in the family could see anyone else.Back then, I'd naïvely believed we were the same.But after he met Maddison, Brandon had said, "Maddie really is more likable than you are."Even so, I still liked him because he was the only person who remembered me while thinking about Maddison. Whenever he bought something, he always bought two of them.One for her. One for me.At some point, though, the matching gifts had quietly changed. There were still two of everything. Only now, bo
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Chapter 4
Mom immediately lashed out."What do you mean, your money? You live under my roof and eat my food. And now you're acting like I wronged you for taking some money? I raised you for nothing."That wasn't the same thing.If our family had really been struggling financially, I would've handed over every dollar without hesitation.But Mom had taken it for something Maddison didn't need.I raised my voice. "Taking someone else's money without asking is stealing. What you did was illegal."Tyler shot to his feet so fast his chair scraped across the floor. "Watch your mouth, Ashley! What do you mean, stealing? That's our mother you're talking about!"Brandon frowned, his voice full of the same familiar lecture he'd given me a hundred times before. "Ashley, you're overreacting. Who talks about stealing when it's family? Mrs. Sullivan probably just thought it wasn't safe for a teenage girl to keep that much cash lying around."Besides, Maddie got into Crestview. As her sister, it's only
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Chapter 5
Meanwhile, at the Grand Regency Hotel, the ballroom on the top floor glittered resplendently beneath crystal chandeliers, and champagne glasses clinked.Nearly every relative, family friend, and business acquaintance had shown up.Mom moved through the crowd in a deep maroon evening dress, practically glowing with pride.Dad stood nearby with a drink in hand, laughing with business associates.Every conversation somehow found its way back to Maddison."Robert Sullivan, your younger daughter has always been exceptional. And now she's headed to Crestview? That girl's future is limitless." A heavyset family friend raised his glass with a grin.Dad laughed and drained his own. "Oh, she's done well, but that's mostly because she's always been willing to work hard. As parents, we haven't had to worry too much. We've just tried our best to give her every opportunity possible."Mom beamed beside him, one arm linked possessively through Maddison's."Maddison, that bracelet is gorgeous.
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Chapter 6
Mom snatched the paper from the reporter's hand.The moment her eyes landed on the score and the familiar last digits of the Social Security number, her vision blurred. Her knees nearly gave out beneath her.It was real.The daughter she'd casually dismissed as someone who had "only scored in the 1300s", the daughter she'd spent years telling was inferior to her sister in every way, was the city's top SAT scorer.Meanwhile, Maddison's score—the one she'd been so proud of—suddenly looked painfully ordinary beside a 1560. Worse still, only moments earlier, she'd joked in front of hundreds of guests that she wished Maddison had been her only daughter.The whispers around the ballroom quickly turned into ridicule."This mother is so biased! How do you have the top student in the city and treat her like she doesn't matter?""Looks to me like she spent years tearing down one daughter just to build up the other. Looks like that finally came back to bite her.""Using the city's top S
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Chapter 7
The train swayed as it carried me south.Outside the window, the flat northern plains gradually gave way to rolling hills and endless stretches of green.I leaned back against the stiff train seat and watched the scenery race past.For the first time in my life, I felt light, as if someone had finally pulled out the thorn that had been lodged in my heart for eighteen years. It bled a little when it came free, but at least it had finally stopped festering.In August, even the air in the South Coast carried the scent of the ocean.By the time I stepped out of the station with my suitcase, an upperclassman from the freshman welcome team was already waiting there."New student? Which school are you with?" An upperclassman greeted with a smile."Chemistry.""Wow. That's where all the top scorers end up. Come on, the shuttle's this way."Because I'd arrived two weeks early, I was able to apply for early move-in housing.A four-person dorm and the top bunk by the window.My roommat
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Chapter 8
The first person to find me was Dad. He'd gotten my class schedule from my academic advisor.The moment class ended and I stepped out into the hallway, I saw him standing there waiting for me.We hadn't seen each other in only two months, but somehow, he looked ten years older. Half his hair had turned gray. Even his back no longer seemed as straight as it once had.The moment he saw me, his eyes reddened. He hurried forward, reaching for my hand."Ashley! I finally found you!"I took a step back and avoided his touch. "What are you doing here?"His hand froze awkwardly in midair. A strained smile appeared on his face. "Ashley, come home with me. Your mother cries every day. She's cried so much she's practically ruined her eyes. Maddie's been distracted all the time, too. The whole house is a mess."I looked at him coldly. "What does that have to do with me?""How can you say something like that?" Dad got agitated, his voice rising."That's your home! You... you left in such a
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Chapter 9
I acted as though I hadn't heard him. I crouched down and picked up the oranges one by one, putting them back into the bag.Then I looked up at him."Understand what, exactly? I spent eighteen years being the good daughter. Now I've simply chosen the school I wanted to attend. What did I do wrong?"Tyler was left speechless. Embarrassment quickly turned into anger. He pointed at me accusingly."You're selfish! Cold-blooded! I knew it. Nobody liked you when we were kids, and now you've only gotten worse! Maddie's been so upset over you that she hasn't even had the heart to prepare to start at Crestview. How can you live with yourself?""That's her problem." Carrying my fruit, I headed upstairs without looking back. "And one more thing. The next time you grab my stuff, I'm calling the police."Tyler shouted after me, but in the end, he didn't dare follow.The third person to come looking for me was Brandon.It was on a rainy weekend. I had just walked out of the library and opene
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Chapter 10
In the blink of an eye, four years had passed.When the list of students admitted directly into South Coast's graduate program was published, my name stood at the top of the Chemistry Department.During the three years of my master's program, I won every major award the university had to offer.I published three first-author papers in leading scientific journals and worked alongside my advisor on nationally funded research projects.I was no longer the ugly duckling hiding away in a storage room, trying to earn scraps of attention from my parents.I'd grown strong wings of my own. I'd crossed mountains and oceans and finally found the sky that belonged to me.By then, my tutoring income alone was enough to cover all of my tuition and living expenses. It even let me treat myself to expensive seafood dinners by the ocean every now and then.I bought the latest phone and many beautiful dresses. I was living better than I ever had during all eighteen years I spent in the Sullivan ho
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