My parents forbade me from celebrating my 18th birthday because my sister didn’t feel special enough. So I moved out that night. A year later, their golden girl saw how successful I’d become, and her jealous meltdown shattered the family.

are you?” she said, hugging me before I could step back. “Your mom said you moved out for school. That’s so cool that you’re living independently.”

So that was the story they’d gone with. Clean. Simple.

“Yeah, I’m doing well,” I said, keeping my tone neutral.

“Beth misses you,” Ashley continued. “She talks about you all the time. Says she wishes you’d continue reading …