Page 4

Her brothers, Colter and Cooper, transferred closer to home after everything.

Another strike against me.

Swallowing the cry building in my chest, I quickly spin to grab my bags before they notice. I don’t need to add to my parents’ worry. It was hard enough to convince them that I would be well enough to be so far from home.

“Evie,” my father calls.

I swipe away the errant tear and clear my throat before I face them. “I’m okay, Dad.

He searches my eyes for the truth. I’m not okay… I never will be. Farrah took part of my soul with her, leaving me even more broken, and no matter how much I heal, there’s no regeneration of a broken soul. But I’ll never let them worry about me again.

“I’m good. I promise,” I state, hoping to reassure them as my father takes both bags from me.

My mom stands beside me, clasping my hand. “This is going to be your reset, Eva Rose. This is where life after a semicolon begins for you.”

I should’ve never gotten a semicolon…I don’t deserve to start anew.

Farrah should be the one here. I’m a usurper… a fraud waiting for the day I am caught and made to pay for my transgressions.

Squeezing her hands, I smile to reassure her. “Yes, from now on, I’ll live the life I’ve always deserved.”

2

eva

“Rememberto take all of your meds. They’re already in pill packs and will arrive monthly,” my mother begins. “Call at least once a week.” She looks down at her watch, checking whatever she has on her list, as she stands, hugs me, and kisses my cheek. “And your virtual appointment with Dr. Russell is on Thursday morning at ten.” Then she’s out of the way so my father can say his goodbyes.

No one can accuse Dr. Amina Josephine Pierce of being ill-prepared. The woman has lists for her lists. But you don’t become the president of Yale University by being disorganized.

My dad wraps me in his arms, squeezing me until I giggle, just like when I was little. “Deuparth gwaif yw ei ddechrau,” he murmurs into my hair.

Starting the work is two-thirds of it.

He pulls back. “I’ll be out of the country, meeting with investors for the new project.” He peers down at me, his soft brown eyes once again perusing me for any hint that this is a bad idea and that I should take more time.

“Where are you off to this time?” I inquire, trying to refocus his attention.

“New York and California, for this week to solidify the contract for our new acquisition, then I’ll be in Geneva visiting one of the locations while your mother presents at her conference,” he explains.

Smiling, I reply, “Is this the big contract you worked on over the summer? The one you outbid the other potential buyer?”

“The very same,” he grins before striding to my mother.

Both my parents are standing by the door when it opens. A girl about my age and height with platinum blonde hair and bourbon-colored eyes stands in the doorway.

“Jade Mallory, how many times do I need to remind you to knock? Suppose the door pushed in instead of pulling out, you would’ve knocked these poor people out,” a gruff baritone voice chastises.

Unfazed by the man’s sharp tone, Jade strolls inside, her lithe frame moving like she’s on the runway at Paris Fashion Week.

“Don’t mind my dad. He’s a bit extra,” she says as a portly man with matching hair and eyes enters with a woman in a pink summer dress showcasing her slight frame, much like Jade’s.

Jade’s father narrows his gaze on her before facing my parents. “I’m Sylvester Mallory,” he announces before pointing to the woman. “And this is my lovely wife, Bambi.”

“Rhion Pierce, it’s a pleasure to meet you.” Dad shakes Mr. Mallory’s hand. “This is my wife, Dr. Amina Pierce,” Dad beams, looking at my mother with so much love.

I’m struck by how wonderful my parents are and how amazing they’ve always been. Yet somehow, I’m like this. Maintaining any semblance of the happy kid they claimed I was is a constant struggle.

Where is that girl, and how do I find my way back to her?