You Thought My Turn Could Always Come Later Chapter 14
After the ceremony, reporters swarmed my mother.
“Your daughter’s grades are so outstanding! You must be very involved in her education.”
“When did she first show an aptitude for math?”
“Does her asthma ever affect her ability to compete?”
Caroline opened her mouth.
She couldn’t answer a single question.
One reporter looked confused.
“You didn’t know she has asthma?”
Caroline’s face went completely white.
She turned and looked at me as if seeing me for the first time.
“When did you get that?”
“When I was seven.”
“You took me to the hospital yourself. The doctor told you to always keep emergency medication on hand for me.”
Caroline took a half-step back.
“I… I don’t remember.”
“I know.”
I didn’t say anything else.
The first time I lived this life, that was how I died.
Suddenly, Penelope pushed her way through the crowd.
She grabbed Caroline’s arm.
“Mom, my piano teacher is waiting.”
“You promised today was my day.”
For the first time ever, Caroline shook her off.
“Wait.”
Penelope froze, then her face crumpled and she started to cry.
“Are you going to stop wanting me just because my sister was on TV?”
The cameras all swung toward them.
Caroline stood there, trapped.
I had no interest in watching the rest of the show. I turned and walked away.
She chased me into the hallway and grabbed my wrist.
“Sabine, come home with me.”
“I’ll make it up to you.”
“Whatever you want, I’ll give it to you.”
I glanced at the expensive diamond bracelet on her wrist.
“I want you to remember my birthday.”
“I want you to remember my medication.”
“I want you to remember that I was waiting for you after school, too.”
Tears streamed down Caroline’s face.
“Mom remembers now.”
“It’s too late.”
I pulled my hand free.
“You don’t suddenly want to love me.”
“You just suddenly realized you don’t need me anymore.”
Behind us, another series of camera flashes went off.
The perfect image Caroline cared about so much had shattered in front of everyone.