“That’s your thing.”
The words turned out to be harder for Claire than I expected.
Then came the part that hurt the most.
“Ask your mother. Or your brother. To someone.”
Someone.
Like she’s not someone for him.
Derek’s response was shorter.
Sell your car.
Stop being so dramatic.
Megan sent a single emoji.
Nothing more.
After the afternoon, Claire was sitting alone in her car in a supermarket parking lot.
The same place where thousands of people stopped to run daily errands.
But for Claire, it became the place where she finally understood something painful.
They didn’t treat her like a member of the family.
They were treating her like a resource.
His phone vibrated again.
She was expecting another excuse.
Instead, he saw Ethan’s name.
His junior cousin.
The person most people overlooked during family gatherings.
Where are you?
Don’t explain.
Just tell me.
I’m coming.
Claire stared at the message.
For the first time all day, he felt something he had almost forgotten.
Relief.
She sent her location.
Two minutes later, Ethan called.
“Claire, stay in your car,” he said, breathing hard.
I’m five minutes away.
Someone was coming.
Not because they need something.
Not because they expected something.
Because I needed them.
