Goodbye to You Who Are Separated from Me

After my mother passed away and my stepmother brought Halle into our home, everything changed.

I felt more out of place in the house, and even Matthew, who had grown up with me, seemed to prefer Halle over me.

The death of my kitten left a hollow ache in my heart.

I knew no one would believe me if I spoke up.

No one would believe that the sweet, understanding Halle could be capable of something so cruel.

That night, I cried for hours. When Dad asked me what was wrong, I couldn't help but tell him everything I had seen.

He told me not to overthink it.

I was heartbroken and reluctant to return home, using the excuse of staying over at a friend's house.

I never expected Dad to come looking for me that night.

He told me he believed in me, gently patting my head as he said, "My little princess has grown up.

"You're even stronger than I imagined.

"Whatever you want to do in the future, I'll support you!"

That night, we talked openly for hours, and both felt better.

None of us could have predicted that tragedy would strike on the way back.

If I had known this would be the outcome, I would have never been so reckless!

Our brakes failed.

To avoid a large truck ahead, our car crashed into a roadside utility pole. In my daze, I felt a pair of warm hands lifting me, followed by a deafening explosion.

"Boom!"

When I woke up, I was met with the devastating news: Dad had died, and my stepmother had taken her own life.

Matthew was like a wild lion, his eyes blazing with rage, as though he wanted to tear me apart.

"Why didn't you die? Why are you still alive?

"It's all your fault!

"If it weren't for you, Dad wouldn't have died, and Halle's mother would still be alive. Why did it have to be you who survived?"

At that time, I shared his anguish. I, too, wondered why it wasn't me who had died.

The guilt was overwhelming. Matthew wouldn't let me near him, nor would he allow me near our home.

He declared that from now on, Halle was his only family.

And Halle, even then, still wore that same cold, calculating look in her eyes.