The Game They Played, The Life I Lost Chapter 06

The Game They Played, The Life I Lost Chapter 06

Mom, Dad, and Ethan searched every street near the house, but came up empty.

“What do we do? Her phone’s off, and she’s blocked all of us.”

“You don’t think Tara would do something drastic, do you?”

They paced in circles, frantic.

Ethan realized he hadn’t checked my office. He turned the wheel.

But he missed the exit three times.

He didn’t know the route.

Outside the car window, it started to rain.

Ethan remembered another rainy day when I’d texted him to pick me up.

He didn’t come.

Because Serena had bought too much at the mall and needed a ride instead.

I was the option he didn’t choose.

At the front desk, they watched anxiously as the receptionist made a call.

She finally shook her head apologetically.

“I’m sorry. Miss Thompson is no longer employed here.”

—

“She transferred to London.”

All three of them stared in disbelief.

“London?”

It sounded impossibly far. And I’d just left without a word.

Mom clutched her chest and wailed.

“That far? She didn’t even say anything. That girl is trying to kill us!”

Dad reached out to steady her.

Ethan, unusually quiet, picked up his pace.

“No. I’m going to find her.”

They trickled home one by one. That’s when they finally noticed the tiny attic room—the one you had to stoop just to enter.

It was empty.

Only the dress and the gifts sat in the closet.

Quiet. Untouched.

Seeing the people who’d once only cared about themselves now falling apart over me, Serena’s temper exploded.

She grabbed a glass and hurled it to the floor, shrieking.

“Who cares if that idiot left? Why are you all so upset?”

“This family is better off without her. I hope she never comes back!”

A hard slap cracked across her face.

—

Dad.

“Shut your mouth! She’s your sister, you monster!”

Mom’s face was ashen. She wasn’t coddling Serena anymore.

“When you were little and didn’t know better, we let it slide. But things are different now. This is Tara’s home too.”

“If you can’t handle that, move out. No one’s stopping you.”

Their late-arriving shame burned through them, turning into fury.

Serena screamed and looked at Ethan.

“Ethan, you’re still on my side, right?”

But Ethan stared at the gummy bears and the anniversary bracelet on the table.

His chest ached.

He’d ignored a good woman for too long. He couldn’t afford to be a fool anymore.

“No one should be on your side.”

“I’ve done enough for you over the past twenty years. But Tara needs me now.”

Serena laughed through her tears and turned to leave.

“I grew up with you too! Why do you love her and not me?”

Ethan’s face darkened.

—

“You don’t get to decide how feelings work.”

“Fine. If you’re all taking her side, I’m out of here.”

The house went quiet.

Six hours of flying, and I wasn’t tired at all.

By the time we landed, it was evening.

I pulled my suitcase through customs and checked my phone.

The screen lit up with a flood of missed calls and messages.

My parents’ texts were so long I barely had the patience to skim them.

I swiped left and deleted them all.

Several pending friend requests sat in my inbox.

All from Ethan.

Ethan: [Tara, let’s talk.]

Talk about what?

There was nothing left to say.

I put my phone away.