Chapter 6
“What the hell, why is Avery still in bed?!” My Mum’s voice thundered through the wooden door.
Ijolted upright. “What?!”
My eyes darted around the room. Posters of my old K–pop obsession were plastered on the walls, my purple beanbag sat in the corner and my middle school uniform hung crookedly on the rack beside it.
I grabbed the purple glittery phone charging beside me.
Wednesday, March 19th. 6:34 AM. 2019.
It’s my twelfth birthday?
The phone slipped from my hand. Stumbling towards the mirror, I froze at the reflection staring back at me. A twelve years old girl.
Pimples speckled across her cheeks. Her hair sat in that awkward shoulder length cut I had gotten in sixth grade. She looked like me.
Memories rushed in like a flood and I instinctively reached for my stomach.
The pain. The betrayal. I could almost feel it all over again flooding my bloodstream, twisting something deep inside me in the most inexplicable, raw and unwanted.
My breath rose and fell in harsh rapid breath as tears stung my eyes.
Breathe, Avery. Stop the damn tears. You’ve been given a second chance, and this time, you’re going to change your fate.
“Avie, are you up?” A voice called, knocking at the door. “Mum said to remind you to go make breakfast and don’t wear that ugly purple sweater”
My heart skipped a beat at Ava’s sugary voice. I walked to the door and opened it, and there she was. My parent’s golden child. Bright smile, always looking perfect and pretty. Only now, I am a lot taller than she is. Though by the time we clock sixteen, it would be the reverse.
It took me all the self restraint I had to smile back at her fake smiley face.
My heart hammered in my chest.
“Is this a dream?” I asked myself inwardly.
“Avie…” Ava’s sweet voice fluttered into my ears jolting me back to reality.
“Mom. Avery is acting strange!” She said running off.
“No I’m not,” I shouted, instinctively chasing after her before pausing halfway.
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Chapter 6
I looked down at my hands and feet. They looked smaller than I remembered.
My feet resumed their journey as I walked into the dining room.
“What date is it today?” I blurted out before I could consider it properly.
20
Dad’s fork clanked as he dropped it on his plate abruptly. Mom followed suit as she stared at me like I had grown two heads.
“Did you hit your head sis?” Ava was the first to respond.
I was halfway shaking my head when I stopped.
In the past I would have dumbly cleared her misconception but now I know she was just subtly calling me dumb.
“I’m serious Ava. What’s today’s date?”
Mom’s eyebrows shifted together. “Avery, it’s march 19th. Are you okay?”
My face relaxed in realization. The time and date on my phone is correct. I’m back to being 12.
“Are you feeling okay, sweetheart?” Dad asked, setting down his fork completely.
I stared at Ava across the table. She looked so small. So innocent. Her blonde curls framed her face perfectly, and her blue eyes sparkled with concern. But I was not fooled. I know it all now.
“I’m fine,” I said, sitting down in my chair.
“Oh good,” Mom said with relief. “Because we have such a wonderful surprise for
you girls.”
Ava perked up instantly. “What kind of surprise?”
“Well,” Dad smiled, “your mother and I were talking. And we noticed how tired Ava has been lately.”
I watched as Ava’s face changed. Her big eyes grew wider, a sign of her growing excitement.
“I have been really tired, Daddy,” she said softly.
“We know, angel,” Mom reached over and smoothed Ava’s hair. “You’ve been working so hard at school. Getting such good grades.”
My stomach twisted. Even at twelve, Ava was already playing this game, manipulating our parents.
“But they aren’t innocent either,” I told myself.
“So we thought,” Dad continued, “maybe Ava needs a little break. Something special to help her feel better.”
“What about Avery?” Ava asked, glancing at me. “She gets tired too.”
But her voice had an undertone. Old me will literally assume she was looking out for me and I will humbly
10:30 Thu Jan 1
Chapter 6
tell her not to worry but I get it now. This is her indirectly telling me she was the loved one and not me.
“Well, Avery secins fine,” Mom said, barely looking at me. “You’re the one who’s been struggling, honey.”
Struggling. That’s what they called it when Ava wanted something whether it was valid or not.
“What’s the surprise?” I asked.
Dad’s face lit up. “We’re taking Ava shopping this afternoon. New clothes, maybe some books, whatever she
wants.”
“Just Ava?” The words came out before I could stop them.
“Well,” Mom looked uncomfortable. “It’s for Ava’s recovery. She needs some cheering up.”
Recovery from what? Being tired?
Ava smiled at me across the table. That sweet, innocent smile that everyone else thought was real.
“Maybe next time, Avie,” she said. “When you need cheering up too.”
The way she said it made it sound like I never needed anything. Like I was always fine, always strong, always able to handle everything on my own.
“That’s very thoughtful of you, Ava,” Dad said proudly.
I wanted to scream but I took a stifling breath and held on to my spoon, taking a bite of my cereal.
“You’re being very quiet, Avery,” Mom observed.
“I’m eating.”
“Don’t be rude,” she warned.
Rude. I was being rude by eating breakfast quietly while they planned Ava’s shopping trip.
“Sorry,” I said. But I wasn’t sorry, not anymore at least.
Ava kicked me gently under the table. When I looked up, she was smiling again.
“Are you excited about our birthday, Avie?”
“Sure.”
“Just sure?” Mom frowned. “It’s your twelfth birthday. That’s very special.”
“It is special,” I agreed.
But I was watching Ava. The way her eyes narrowed just slightly when I didn’t get more excited. She wanted me to make a scene. To seem ungrateful or jealous so she can once again prove she was the virtuous one.
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Chapter 6
I wouldn’t give her that.
“Good,” Dad said. “Because after we take Ava shopping, we’re having your party tonight.”
“Both our parties,” I corrected.
“Of course,” he said quickly. “Your joint party.”
But I could see it in his face. In Mom’s face too. They were already thinking of it as Ava’s party, I was just along because we happened to be born the same day.
“I can’t wait,” Ava said, bouncing in her seat. “Thank you so much for the shopping trip. You’re the best parents ever.”
She got up and hugged them both. First Dad, then Mom. Long, squeezy hugs that made their faces soft and happy.
“What about you, Avery?” Mom asked. “Don’t you want to say thank you?”
Thank you for what? For leaving me home while they took my twin sister shopping on our birthday?
“Thank you,” I said anyway.
“That’s better.” Mom smiled.
Ava sat back down and looked at me. Really looked at me. Like she was trying to figure something out.
“You seem different today, Avie.”
“Different how?”
“I don’t know. Just… different.”
I shrugged. “Maybe I’m just tired too.”
Her eyes flashed. She didn’t like that. Didn’t like me claiming to be tired when that was her thing.
“Are you?” Mom asked me. “Are you tired, sweetheart?”
For a second, I thought she might care. Might offer to take me shopping too, or ask what was wrong.
“No,” I said. “I’m fine.”
“Good,” she said, turning back to Ava. “We don’t need two tired girls.”
Ava smiled triumphantly.
“When do we leave for shopping?” she asked.
“After lunch,” Dad said. “That gives you time to make a list of what you want.”
Chapter 6
“Can I get a new dress? For the party?”
“Of course, angel. Whatever you want.”
I finished my cereal in silence. This was how it started. How it had always been. Ava would get something special, something just for her, and everyone would act like it was perfectly normal.
But I remembered now, I remembered all of it. It is going to be different this time. I was different and I had
time,
A year. I had a whole year to change everything.
And I was going to use every single day of it.
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Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
