You Thought My Turn Could Always Come Later Chapter 04
The awards ceremony started at nine a.m.
The seat in the middle of the front row remained empty.
At 9:20, Dad sent a text.
*Chloe got into a fight at school. I’ll come over as soon as I’m done here.*
At 9:40, the principal called my name.
“First place in the state math competition, Sabine Burke.”
I walked onto the stage.
The applause was deafening.
Ms. Ward handed me the trophy and whispered, “Where’s your dad?”
I glanced at the empty chair.
“He’s not coming.”
At ten, a second text came through.
*The other parent won’t leave. Sabine, don’t blame Chloe for this.*
I turned my phone off.
After signing the enrollment confirmation for Northwood Academy, I didn’t go back to class. I went straight home.
The front door was open.
The table was covered with food.
Chloe sat on the couch with a Band-Aid on her wrist, unboxing a new phone.
Dad sat beside her, helping her insert the SIM card.
“We had to pay for someone else’s phone this time,” he said gently. “No more fighting, okay?”
“She’s the one who said I don’t have a dad.”
“All right,” Dad sighed, patting her head. “If anyone says that again, tell the teacher. I’ll handle it.”
I stood in the doorway.
Dad looked up, and the tiny SIM card fell from his fingers to the floor.
“Sabine?”
He glanced at the clock on the wall, and the color drained from his face.
“The awards ceremony…”
“It’s over.”
“I was going to go,” he said, scrambling to his feet. “But Chloe got into a fight, and the other parents insisted we pay for the phone. I couldn’t just leave.”
Chloe held up her wrist.
“Big sister, I got hurt, too.”
There wasn’t a speck of blood on the Band-Aid.
Dad followed my gaze, and his voice dropped.
“It’s not serious, but it’s still an injury.”
“Her dad is gone. I promised him I’d take care of her.”
I set the trophy on the table.
“What about what you promised me?”
Dad went rigid.
He had promised to pick me up from school.
He had promised he wouldn’t forget my things.
This morning, he had promised he would be there.
He hadn’t kept a single one.
“Sabine, don’t be like this.”
His eyes were red.
“I know you feel wronged. Once Chloe settles in, I’ll make it up to you.”
“How long?”
“What?”
“How long until she’s settled in?” I looked at him. “A week? A month? A year?”
He opened his mouth, but no words came out.
Megan came out of the kitchen, her face a mask of impatience.
“Can we not do this today? Your dad is tired enough as it is.”
I smiled.
“Fine.”
“I’m done.”
I went to my room and slung the backpack I’d packed ages ago over my shoulder.
There were only three things inside.
My acceptance letter.
My prize check.
My asthma inhaler.
When I walked out, Dad was in the kitchen, cutting a cake.
Chloe was clinging to his arm, demanding the biggest piece.
No one saw me leave.
At four o’clock, the bus pulled out of the station, right on time.
My phone buzzed again and again.
Dad called seventeen times.
The last text read:
*Sabine, I saved you some cake. Where are you?*
I didn’t answer.
I popped out the SIM card and snapped it in half.
As the bus drove out of town, I had only one thought.
This time, he hadn’t lost me.
I just didn’t want him anymore.