Breaking Point

It couldn’t come fast enough. Not only was today my graduation day, but it was also my birthday. Ever since Kylee had moved in, she had made sure that I got into enough trouble to ruin my day. My parents had all but forgotten that it was also my birthday. “A rotten child doesn’t deserve to be put on a pedestal and celebrated.” My mother had said every year. I didn’t even get so much as a birthday cake anymore.

Not that I had anybody to share one with anyways.

The seniors had received the day off to prepare for the ceremony. I was at my desk at Harland International. My parents and I had gotten into a shouting match when I got home about me working there, and for once, my dad had managed to argue himself into a corner. In the end, I told him that I was about to be an adult, and I wasn’t going to quit, regardless of what he “ordered” me to do. It was nearing the end of the day when Mrs. Harland came in with a garment bag and handed it to me.

“I may not have been able to get you this the other day, but I got it for you now.”

I took the bag and unzipped it. Inside was the silver medusa dress that I had tried on.

“I know you said that it was a little too fancy for a graduation, but it looked so much prettier on you than the black lace dress did. I couldn’t just leave it on the rack.”

I smiled and threw my arms around her. “Thank you, Mrs. Harland. You’re more of a mother to me than my own mother is.” I choked. She held me back tightly, patting my back as I began to sob into her shoulder.

“There, there, dear.” She cooed. She pulled away from me and wiped away one of my tears with her thumb. “Now, lets go get you made up for your big day, hmm?”

After an afternoon of pampering, hair, and makeup, Mrs. Harland dropped me back off at my house to join my family. As soon as I walked through the door, Kylee’s screams could be heard through the house.

“My dress! My beautiful dress! She cut it up!” Kylee bawled as she came barreling down the stairs. My mom, who had been sitting on the living room sofa stood up with concern as I stood at the door flabbergasted at the accusation.

“Look at what she did, Mom!”

Hadn’t it been scheduled to be delivered earlier on in the day? “I didn’t touch your dress, Kylee. I just walked through the door!”

“You found a way. You always find a way. She always finds a way, mom! She couldn’t have her day so she had to take mine. Why do you always have to take whats mine? Is it not good enough for you that I had nothing before mom and dad adopted me?”

THWACK! My mom had stormed up to me and smacked me in the face. Hard. THWACK! Another one for the other cheek.

“Mom!” I said, stunned.

“I have had enough of you!” She yelled. “Spoiled rotten. Absolutley rotten. All these years. Everything I have done for you. Its never been enough has it? Screw graduation. You are leaving this house now!”

My mother grabbed my wrist and started dragging me out the door.

“Mom! Stop! Please! I didn’t do it!”

Kylee stopped her bawling. “Mom! Please! Let her graduate with me. I know she doesn’t deserve it but I just want to walk the stage with my sister!”

“Get your stuff on and get out to the car!” My mom growled. I sprinted up the stairs before she could change her mind, put on the dress that Mrs. Harland had got for me, put on my graduation gown, a pair of silvery shoes that were in the bottom of the bag, and went back out to the family car.

Kylee had taken a seat up front with my mom, forcing me to sit in the back. Not that I cared.

Soon, this would all be over.