Where the Light Finds Me

My sister, Willow Sorrel, finally lowered her phone after taking enough pictures and took two steps back.

"You're so easy to fool, Eleanor. We walked you right toward it, and you actually walked in."

My future mate, Theodore Grey, made sure Willow was safely away from the edge before letting go of her. Only then did he look at me.

"Sorry, Eleanor. Willow wanted me to play a prank for her birthday. She asked me to lead you into the creek, and I couldn't exactly say no.

"Besides, it's hot out. The water isn't even cold. Just think of it as a quick swim."

My mother, Helen, smacked my father on the arm, annoyed.

"I forgot to record that! If we'd posted Eleanor's reaction online, it would've gone viral for sure."

The four of them kept laughing and joking as if nothing had happened. No one even bothered to ask if I was cold, or if I was hurt.

I climbed up the muddy bank alone, inch by inch. The dress I'd worn for Willow's birthday was soaked and covered in mud.

When I was almost at the top, Theodore reached down and pulled me the rest of the way up. The second I was on my feet, he moved back to Willow's side and stood between us.

"You're covered in mud. Stay away from Willow. Don't get her new dress dirty."

I looked down at the mud covering my dress.

It had been my favorite dress, and I'd spent three months' salary on it. There was probably no saving it now.

"Eleanor, why didn't you call for help? This dress is completely ruined now."

Willow sounded innocent and surprised, as if she hadn't been the one who put me in that water.

Theodore gently brushed a wind-blown strand of hair off her face.

"That's just how Eleanor is. She'd rather suffer than ask anyone for help. Remember the last time she got sick? She had a terrible fever and still wouldn't call me."

Mom nodded along.

"She's been like this since she was little. Even when she couldn't see at night, she never asked anyone to help her. She was always falling and scraping her knees."

I said nothing as I blotted the water off my arms with a tissue.

There was a reason I never spoke up when I was sick. The last time I called Theodore was when I had appendicitis and needed to go to the hospital. He arrived late, then spent the whole time complaining that I had made him miss work.

And there was a reason I never spoke up when I was hurt. The first time I told Mom I couldn't see at night, all I got was a lecture about being too weak to call myself a werewolf.

They had taught me not to ask for help. Now they blamed me for staying silent.

Willow tugged on Theodore's arm.

"Theodore, I'm tired of walking. Let's take a cab home."

Theodore smiled at her, indulgent.

"Sure. It's your day. Whatever you want."

Mom immediately took out her phone to call a cab. Apparently, letting Willow stand in the cold wind for another minute was too much for her.

"But a cab can only fit four passengers. There are five of us. We won't all fit."

Theodore didn't even have to think about it.

"Leave Eleanor behind. She's covered in mud anyway. No driver would want her in their car."

Mom didn't argue with him. She just handed me another pack of tissues.

"Eleanor, clean yourself up. You look terrible. Anyone who sees you like this will laugh."

My father, Robert, nodded too.

"You ate a lot at dinner. Walk it off."

The four of them climbed into the cab and drove off without looking back, leaving me abandoned there in the dark.

But for the first time, being surrounded by complete darkness didn't scare me.

After trying several times, I finally found a driver who agreed to take me home, but it cost me a small fortune in cleaning fees.

By the time I got home, Willow and Theodore had changed into their pajamas. They were sitting on the couch playing video games.

Dad had brought them juice, while Mom sat nearby asking what they wanted for breakfast the next morning.

They looked happy. So happy that no one noticed the intruder standing in the doorway.

My head was spinning, and it stirred up the last of the resentment I had left.

"I feel cold. I think I'm coming down with something."

I said it three times. No one answered.

On the fourth try, Theodore finally got up, a trace of impatience on his face.

"Fine, I'll go find you some medicine."

Willow grabbed his arm.

"Finish this level first."

Theodore hesitated for only a second before sitting back down.

"I'm busy. Go find it yourself."

Mom shoved me.

"Medicine? Go change out of those filthy clothes first before you track mud all over the floor. You caught a little chill, that's all. What kind of werewolf is as fragile as you? If word got out, you'd be an embarrassment to the whole pack."

That last flicker of hope went out with that shove.

I said nothing more. I just nodded, turned, and walked away from a happiness that was never mine.