Chapter 2

Mom's reply crushed every last hope I had. I watched her go, too dazed to react.

After Mom left, Kendrick came over.

My eyes lit up. "Kenny, can I… stay over at your house for one night? I promise I won't make a mess."

Kendrick let out a sigh. After a long pause, he said, "I promised Megan that she'd be the only one welcome in my home. If she finds out you went there, she'll have an episode."

He paused before continuing, "Mia, you've always been sensible. Once Megan gets better, I'll let you visit my house, okay? You'll always be welcome there."

Sensible?

I smiled bitterly. Ever since Megan got sick, "sensible" had become the label I couldn't shake.

I looked up and held out my hand to Kendrick. "Please return… the protective charm to me."

A flicker of unease crossed Kendrick's face. "I couldn't risk losing it, so I left it at home."

I noticed the guilt in his eyes. "Go get it now, then."

Kendrick ran a hand through his hair, looking agitated. "I gave it to Megan."

I had finally reached my breaking point. I stared at him in disbelief. "I got that for you on my 16th birthday. I spent hours on my knees until they were bruised, all just to get it for you… and you gave it to Megan?"

Kendrick furrowed his brows. "Megan is sick. I gave it to her for protection. It's just a worthless trinket. Do you really have to make a scene over it?"

Worthless trinket?

That was when I finally stopped hoping for anything from him. The man who'd once sworn he'd take care of me for the rest of my life had, without even realizing it, begun putting Megan first.

I dragged myself past Kendrick, my legs aching with every step.

He grabbed my wrist. "When Megan gets better, we'll go get another one together."

I pulled away, trying to suppress the bitterness welling up inside me. "No need."

"I won't go back on my promise. I…"

Before Kendrick could finish, Megan's voice rang out from upstairs, "Kenny, it's story time."

A smile appeared on Kendrick's face. "Okay, I'm coming."

I watched him disappear upstairs, a bitter smile tugging at the corners of my lips.

Back in my room, I rolled up my pants and found my knees covered in bruises. Even the slightest movement sent pain shooting through my entire body. Sweat soon beaded on my forehead.

After a slight hesitation, I texted Kendrick, "Can you bring me some ointment? My legs hurt."

It was a while before he replied, "Sure. Wait for me."

I waited until the early hours of the morning, until the pain had dulled into numbness, but Kendrick never came.

After three years of living like a prisoner, I finally saw everyone for who they really were.

…

Early the next morning, Kendrick knocked on my door. Seeing that I had no response, he pushed open the door impatiently and walked in, his brows furrowing at the musty smell.

"Sorry. Megan was having nightmares, so I had to accompany her."

I nodded and took the ointment from him.

He knelt before me. "Let me help you."

I said calmly, "If Megan knows, she'll have another episode. Kendrick, thanks for bringing me the ointment."

Calling him by his name left him stunned. "You never used to call me that."

I smiled. "I used to dream of marrying you, so I always call you Kenny instead of Kendrick. But now, I realized that wanting to be your girlfriend was nothing more than a silly, unrealistic fantasy I had as a young girl."

Kendrick swallowed hard. "I'll bring you breakfast later."

I never got breakfast.

While they were eating, Megan suddenly decided she wanted to go on a trip. My parents were all for it, and Kendrick offered to be their personal chauffeur.

They left without even remembering that I existed. I was still stuck in the storage room, barely able to move my bruised legs as I waited for someone to bring me something to eat.