Short Stories - Romance

#4 - Sisters

Best friends were supposed to be the best things in the world. Turns out the universe didn't think I deserved one and didn't bother to explain why.

"What do you mean she's my sister?" I stared at my father as if he'd grown a second head. Whatever was coming out of his mouth did not make any sense at all.

"Sweetheart..." My father reached for me, tenderly taking my hands in his as he'd done many times before. "I know this might be hard and probably not the best way I wanted you to find out," He sent a glare in Victoria's direction before continuing, but like the spoiled princess she had suddenly blossomed into, my ex best friend only rolled her eyes.

"There is no point in sugar coating or hiding this anymore, daddy. You and mom had me and are still in love. Bella and I aren't just friends but sisters, end of story."

Daddy? It was no longer Mr. Thornfield anymore? I stared at Victoria as everything she just said painfully made sense. My father had always treated her like a daughter. Even when we were out shopping, one could never tell the difference between us as he spent on her as much as he did on me. I always thought it was because she was my best friend. "S-She's your daughter?"

"That is what I'm trying to tell you. Evangeline and I..."

Evangeline Ashford...Victoria's mother, the woman who had found me crying my eyes out after a boy shoved me at the play park once. She'd comforted me and once I was smiling again, she'd introduced me to her bubbly daughter. We became best of friends even before play time was over. If only I had known...

In the time my father spent talking, I went down memory lane countless times. Remembering, searching, wanting to see when it all began. I couldn't even if I tried because Victoria and I were almost the same age, which meant...oh dear God! "Did my mother know?" The question slipped out of my mouth as realization of the truth wrecked my world.

Taken aback by my question, my father only sighed. "That was between your mother and I."

At my father's answer, the biggest lump lodged itself in my throat, my heart aching for the woman whose love I would never get a chance to experience ever again. Did she know? Had she suffered in silence after finding out? God! I suddenly felt like the most selfish daughter at the thought of my mother enduring all that alone.

"Honey, say something." My father urged, but what was left to say about my shattered world? My gaze went from him to Victoria and suddenly I saw it. The resemblance I'd not seen before. It ripped its way to my bones, breaking something I'd long treasured between us. And as much as I wanted to blame Victoria for this too, for breaking my heart anew, it wasn't her fault.

"I need air." Reaching for my car keys, I headed for the door, but Jackson blocked my way out.

"You shouldn't be driving in your state." He insisted. He'd had the decency to stand away from Victoria and I would have found some comfort in that, but his lack of surprise at the news tore down deep as the truth slapped me in the face.

"You knew?" My voice was barely a whisper.

"Isa..." Jackson said gently.

"Oh my God!" I suddenly couldn't decide what hurt more between seeing him nestled between Victoria's legs or the fact that he knew that my whole life was a big fat lie and never bothered to tell me. "Did you even love me at all?" My breath hitched as betrayal stabbed and tore at my heart.

"You know I did. This...This was just not my story to tell." Jackson stepped into me, hands stretched out.

"Don't touch me!" I hissed, heart clenching at how he referred to his love for me in the past tense. "And stay away from me, all of you!"

"Honey, where are you going?" Panic laced my father's voice, but I wasn't about to turn back. Not even for him.

"Welcome to Serenity Towers, Miss Thornfield. Do enjoy your stay." The front desk clerk at the hotel chimed.

"Thank you." I mustered a smile. It was Ironic that I chose to stay at the place I had practically escaped from earlier and one I wanted to forget existed, but I knew that if anyone tried to find me, this was the last place they would look for me.