The Lies He Told Me (Grace and Antonio)

They were always telling me that, if I played nice with Ashley, things would go easier for me.

But here was the thing. Ashley's parents were gone, and mine were still around, but they chose to ignore me over her. So, what made my life any different from an orphan?

It was Christmas. I was in the kitchen filling up a pot with water when Ashley strutted in, all dressed up in her newest dress. "Grace, do you think this dress looks good on me?" I ignored her and tried to move past her.

But she wasn't having it. She latched onto

my arm from behind. “I'm waiting for an answer." I frowned, trying to pull away.

She grabbed my other hand, splashed herself with the hot water, and then let out a scream. "Please no Grace!"

"What are you doing?!" I asked her.

"Who do you think Mom's going to believe, you or me?" Ashley smirked, and right on cue, my mom walked in and saw the whole thing, just the way Ashley had set it up. "Grace, if you've got an issue, you come to me," my mom said, her voice heavy with disappointment. "Why would you do this to Ashley?"

Ashley was all teary-eyed,

playing the victim. "Mom, please don't be mad at Grace. It's my fault."

My brother yanked my arm. "Are you jealous of Ashley? You know we

have family coming over, and you messed up her dress on purpose?" My dad's face was

a storm cloud. "Grace, you're grounded. You stay here. and think about what you've done. Ashley, go change, and we'll all head out for dinner."

Ashley looked like

was about to cry, and my mom was right there, soothing her with gentle words and a soft

had just looked a little closer, only looked at

burn in

didn't. They all left, a happy

triumphant

much longer than two weeks for my mom's Instagram to become a chronicle of Ashley's adventures with

but it was only for her, and they didn't even share a

felt like I was

Before I died

life, I

on

"If you don't love me, why did you

Queen“. Those two words were what pushed

years back

I avoided all of them, and the absence of constant conflict with Ashley allowed

in my overall well-being.

11

tension and frustration brought by the absence of conflict with Ashley had a

a result, I woke up feeling

to focus more on my studies and witness

vel.no

a

matter how much effort she put into it, she couldn't reach my