They Filled Her Suitcase And Emptied My Place In The Family Chapter 04

They Filled Her Suitcase And Emptied My Place In The Family Chapter 04

The day before school started, the house was chaos. Three huge suitcases lay open in the living room. Mom was going down a long list.

“Sunscreen, bug spray, vitamins… Lily’s skincare’s not packed yet.”

“Mom, don’t forget the eyecare lamp.” Lily was on the couch eating cherries, gesturing at the coffee table.

“Won’t forget. Ethan bought it for you—I’ll put it on top.”

Dad came out with a stack of cash. “Put this in Lily’s inner pocket. Don’t let her go without.”

I walked through with a bag of trash. Mom didn’t look up. “Vera, go to the store and get two boxes of bandages—Lily’s new shoes might rub. And take her dress from yesterday to the dry cleaners.”

I stopped. The trash bag hung heavier in my hand. “I don’t have time.”

She finally looked up. “What?”

I met her eyes. “I haven’t packed yet.”

Marcus snorted. “What’s there to pack? A few rags—just shove them in. Northwestern’s close—you can come back for anything.”

I ignored him and walked to the door to change my shoes. As I opened it, I ran into Ethan, carrying bags. He had two campus ID holders: one pink with rhinestones, one plain black.

“Vera, where are you going?”

“Trash.”

He handed me the black one. “This is for you. Lily liked the pink one, so I gave it to her. I’m driving you both to Northwestern tomorrow. You don’t have much luggage—you can help Lily with her pink suitcase.”

I looked at the black holder. The same certainty in his eyes as when he’d bought that lamp. He was sure I’d take it. Sure I’d be grateful.

Not this time.

“No. You guys go ahead.” I walked past him, threw out the trash, and went back inside.

Before dawn the next morning, I carried my suitcase out of the villa. The living room was still—they’d stayed up celebrating Lily until late. The autumn wind was crisp. I dragged my wobbly suitcase through the empty streets.

I reached O’Hare at seven, checked in, and sat in the waiting area. My phone started buzzing.

It was time for Northwestern’s new student checkin. The family chat exploded: “Vera, where the hell are you? I told you to help your sister carry her luggage! Now get to Northwestern’s south gate!”

Marcus sent a picture of Lily at the gate, giving a peace sign. “Some people just love being jealous.”

Then Ethan’s private message: “Vera, stop being difficult. Which dorm are you in? Lily’s bed’s made—come help her hang the curtain. I’ll take you both for French food tonight to make it up to you.”

The boarding announcement came: “Passengers traveling to Boston, please proceed to the gate.”

I looked at his message—to make it up to you. I tapped his profile, hit block. Then I blocked every contact in the family. I stood up, grabbed my suitcase, and walked to the gate. Outside, a plane was climbing through the clouds toward the open sky.