The knock felt like a skull-splitting explosion.


    Irritated, I flung the door open. "Leave the food!"


    Before I could see the face, a pnded on my cheek. "Grace, what''s wrong? Bullying Sabrina again?"


    Antonio stood there, Sabrina behind him.


    My eyes were red and swollen. Clutching the takeout, I hung mu head, too exhausted to speak.


    "We searched for hours! Why didn''t you say you were home? Trying to mess with us?" Antonio demanded, grabbing my neck.


    I gasped for air, my vision blurring as his anger poured forth.


    "Sabrina got soaked. If she gets sick, are you responsible?"


    He threw me to the ground.


    Sabrina, in her special yellow bunny-


    eared slippers entered.


    -


    slippers I''d been scolded for wearing, only for him to buy an identical pair-


    "I''m starving," she said, snatching the takeout.


    "That''s mine," I protested.


    Antonio, now in fresh clothes, red. "Sabrina got soaked because of you. Let her have it."


    Sabrina nodded, a smug smile ying on her lips.


    "Make an apple pie." he ordered.


    Sabrina wrinkled her nose at my pie, dering it too sweet, inferior to


    her own.


    Antonio''s subsequentment — that I couldn''t do anything right-


    was the final straw.


    My head throbbed.


    I dumped the takeout over Sabrina''s head.


    Antonio shoved me aside; I copsed.


    He got my towel and pajamas, handing them to Sabrina. "Are you okay?"


    He asked before closing the bathroom door.


    I stumbled to my feet, pped him, and he pinned me against the wall, his grip bruising my wrist.


    Sabrina emerged from the bathroom, wearing my pajamas, her eyes red.


    "I won''t bother Antonio anymore. I''lk


    disappear,” she said, repeating the


    Pse she''d made countlesse


    times.


    Her slightly uneasy smile offered a fragile peace.


    "Forgive me? Drinks? My friend Liam Sterling wants to meet you."


    Their invitations were hollow gestures,; they''d always exclude me.


    I shook my head. "No, you go."


    Ignoring my weakness, Antonio dragged me from bed. "You


    time, you''reing."


    “No!” I struggled, but he shoved me into the back seat.


    Sabrina, pointing to a "Reserved Sabrina Sweetheart" sticker,


    This


    sitting up front?"


    The casual way she referred to herslef as Antonio''s girlfriend was nauseating.


    But Antonio, unfazed, replied gently, "I remember everything you said."