You Told Me To Walk So I Walked Right Out Of Your Lives Chapter 03
Ronan frowned. “Didn’t you hear him? He told you to go to the school.”
“You’re always running around by yourself anyway. Sofia has always had a driver. She’s never had to walk that route alone.”
“You know the way best. It wouldn’t be right to make her go back for your gift, would it?”
My mother nodded in agreement. “That’s right, Amaris.”
“It was Sofia’s birthday, and she still thought to get you a gift. How could you make her go all the way back there?”
“Besides, you haven’t been to school in days. This is a good chance for you to check in.”
I tightened my grip on the hem of my shirt and didn’t bother asking any more questions.
I crouched down, picked up the coins one by one, and put them back in the tin box. Then I stood, clutching the box to my chest.
“I understand, Mr. and Mrs. Santoro.”
Last time, I had taken the shortcut because I was in a hurry to get home, and that’s when I’d been targeted.
This time, I took a long detour, sticking to the main road where there were more people and cars on my way to the school.
After I found the letter Sofia had mentioned, I opened it.
There was only one word inside.
Sucker.
I didn’t get angry, not like I would have before.
I hadn’t really expected a gift anyway.
Besides, that wasn’t why I’d come to the school tonight.
I went to my locker and started packing my things.
I left the books and notes for whoever might need them.
I only took the cards my classmates and teachers had written me and the small gifts they’d given me over the years.
Someone walked in.
“Amaris? What are you doing here so late?”
“I thought once you got early admission, you didn’t have to come to school anymore.”
I turned and saw my guidance counselor, Mr. Davis. I managed a smile.
“Mr. Davis. I just wanted to get the cards everyone gave me.”
He patted my shoulder.
“Of course. Let me help you.”
“You’re the first student in our school’s history to get early admission to Princeton.”
“After you graduate, make sure you come back and visit.”
I nodded, my throat tight.
The Santoro family still didn’t know.
The night I was taken, I had been rushing home down that shortcut specifically to tell them the news.
There was no need for that now.
Soon, I would have nothing to do with that family.
I suddenly remembered something else. “Mr. Davis, has the ten-thousand-dollar scholarship the school promised me been approved yet?”
“Of course,” he said with a smile. “I was just about to notify you.”
“Since you’re here, come with me to the office.”
I walked home with a backpack full of cards and small gifts. Just as I was nearing the house, I thought I saw someone in the lake.
At first, I thought my eyes were playing tricks on me.
But then I stopped and realized the person was calling for help.
I threw my backpack to the ground and dove straight into the water.
When I swam closer and saw the face clearly, I froze.
It was Sofia.
For one split second, I wanted to let go.
But in the end, I grabbed her.
She had done many terrible things, but that didn’t mean she deserved to die.
But Sofia latched onto me like a lifeline, dragging me down with all her panicked strength.
“Calm down! Don’t grab my left hand!”
No matter what I said, she wouldn’t let go.
My left hand was already useless.
With her pulling me under, I swallowed several mouthfuls of water before I finally managed to drag her to shore.
There were already people on the bank.
As soon as Sofia scrambled out, she ran straight to them without a single glance back at me.
I used the last of my strength to pull myself out of the water.
The moment I was on solid ground, my mother slapped me.
“What do you think you’re doing? Why did you push your sister into the lake?”
I froze, then immediately tried to explain. “It wasn’t me.”
“I was walking by and saw she had fallen in, so I jumped in to save her. If you don’t believe me, ask her!”
I looked at Sofia.
She seemed to go blank for a second. Her lips moved, but in the end, she just threw herself into Ronan’s arms and sobbed.
“I thought I’d never see you again… I’ll never make Amaris angry again…”
My father’s expression turned thunderous.
“You bastard!”
He kicked me squarely in the chest, and I tumbled backward into the water.
I had already used every last bit of my strength saving Sofia.
She had been grabbing my left hand the whole time, and the fractured bone screamed in protest.
I struggled in the water, choking as I shouted, “Help me! I don’t have any strength left! Please, help me!”
My parents and Ronan stood on the bank, shielding Sofia behind them.
They looked down at me with disgust.
“How did we raise a monster like you?”
“Amaris, I used to think you were just spoiled. Now I see you’re truly rotten.”
“Stop acting. We all know you can swim. Who are you putting on this show for?”
“Fine. We’ll stand right here and watch. Let’s see how long you can keep pretending.”
Water flooded my mouth and nose.
I could barely breathe.
I could only raise my right hand, begging them to pull me up.
No one moved.
All their attention was on Sofia.
And she didn’t say a word to defend me.
I couldn’t believe this was how I was going to die.
There were still so many things I hadn’t done.
Then there was another splash.
Someone jumped in.
A moment later, I was being dragged onto the shore.
A familiar voice sounded beside my ear.
“What kind of parents are you? You just stood there and watched your own child drown?”