The Unsent Appeal Novel by Anonymous

The Unsent Appeal Novel by Anonymous
The Unsent Appeal Novel by Anonymous

 

The Unsent Appeal Novel by Anonymous

 

I got back from my business trip, dragging my suitcase behind me and carrying gifts for my family.

 

I slid my key into the lock, but it wouldn’t turn.

 

I thought the lock was broken.

 

I was just about to knock when an iMessage from my sister, Allison, popped up on my screen.

 

*Mom, don’t forget to buy a few pink throw pillows for my new room.*

 

I hadn’t even had time to reply before she unsent the message.

 

I stood there, phone in hand, my finger hovering over the keyboard.

 

They had moved. And no one had told me.

 

A second later, Mom called.

 

“Chloe, things have been such a whirlwind with the move. I can’t believe I forgot to tell you.”

 

“The new house is in Wellesley. I’ll send you the address. We’re—”

 

My brother, Tyler, cut her off.

 

His voice was distant, but his words came through perfectly clear.

 

“Why tell her? There’s no room for her here anyway.”

 

Then he reminded Mom, “The room with the best light is for Allie.”

 

“Don’t go giving her the wrong idea.”

 

My breath hitched.

 

“Right,” I managed to say. “Well, as long as you all like the new house.”

 

My phone screen had already gone dark.

 

Only then did I realize Mom had hung up before I’d even finished speaking.

 

Fighting back tears, I opened a rideshare app and put in the address for my boyfriend, Kieran Whitaker.

 

He was the only person I felt I could still trust.

 

Ever since we were kids, Allison had been the center of everyone’s world.

 

Standing beside her, I often felt like an invisible piece of furniture.

 

But Kieran had told me that in his heart, I would always come first.

 

While I waited for the car, I opened Instagram and saw a post he’d just uploaded.

 

*When a pretty girl wants a princess room, your only job is to haul paint cans for her.*

 

The photo showed a freshly painted, pale pink wall.

 

Plush pillows were piled beside it, their price tags still attached.

 

The man who swore I would always come first was decorating Allison’s room.

 

I canceled the ride, opened my work email, and accepted the position of Deputy Managing Director at the Dublin branch.

 

The company had already arranged my work permit, but because I’d turned them down before, everything had been put on hold.

 

They all thought they could live without me.

 

Fine. Starting today, I was on my own side. 

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