She used to do this when we were kids just to get out of chores." Van raised his voice now. "Enough! You're being ridiculous." And before I could take another breath, the three of them had grabbed my arms. I fought back, I really did-but I was weak, still recovering, and outnumbered. They hauled me into the car like a prisoner, drove me straight to the hospital. Within the hour, they had strapped me in, ignored my pleas, and took as much blood as they could. I watched the bags fill with crimson, watched the nurses shake their heads at the number of vials ordered. Then, everything faded. Darkness took over. When I woke up, my body felt hollow-drained, cold, and sore. My vision blurred before it settled on the face I least wanted to see. Vanessa. She sat at the edge of the hospital bed, holding a tray of food. "You're awake," she said gently. "I brought you something to eat." blinked, and for a moment, my heart wanted to believe she meant it. Until I remembered everything. I pushed the tray off the bed. The plate clattered to the floor. The door burst open. Troy. Van. Travis. 'What the hell is wrong with you?" Travis barked. "She brought you food!" 'You're unbelievable, Troy added. "She's trying to fix things and you act like this?" 'She forced me to give blood!" I screamed. "You all did!" 'Taylor…" Vanessa said softly. "Please, don't be like this. You're my sister. I just wanted to make hings right." She leaned in to hug me. Her lips close to my ear. 'You see now?" she whispered sweetly. "They don't want you anymore. So behave." froze. Troy glared at me. "Apologize. Right now." My lips trembled. "I didn't do anything wrong." 'Taylor," Van said, voice dripping with warning. I swallowed back everything I wanted to say. "Fine," I muttered. "I'm sorry." Not because I meant it. But because I was too tired to fight. They all nodded, satisfied. As if I were a misbehaving child finally brought to heel. I closed my eyes and turned away from them. Pretending to sleep. Pretending not to hear Vanessa's fake sobs or my brothers comforting her. I stayed that way until they left. Later that night, my phone buzzed. Scott: Tomorrow is the day. Still ready? I stared at the message and replied: Yes. The next morning, I didn't want to leave the hospital. My body was sore, my heart even more so. Every part of me screamed not to go-but Troy had insisted. "We need this," he told me flatly, not asking but commanding. "You owe it to Vanessa and the rest of us to stop acting like a child. You said yes to the date-so go." And so I went. Not because I wanted to. But because saying no would only bring more blame, more shouting, more guilt shoved down my throat like medicine I never asked for. I wore a soft dress-the same one I had worn on our first date, back when I still believed in things like love and forever. Back when Troy held my hand like it was a promise, not a burden Back when I thought I mattered. He said we'd meet at the restaurant. Just the two of us. To make things right. So I waited. I arrived early, unsure if I was hoping he would show… or hoping he wouldn't. The waitress brought me water. Then asked again if I wanted to order. But minutes passed. Then an hour. The waitress came by, offering water and a strained smile. I gave her the same in return and politely declined to order. "I'm waiting for someone," I said, forcing a smile. "He'll be here soon." But he wasn't. Neither was Travis. Nor Van. I checked my phone. Nothing. I waited another hour. Still nothing. The glass of water had gone warm. The restaurant had changed its playlist three times. My back was aching from sitting too straight, too long. I stared at the door, every time thinking-maybe now. Maybe now, he'll come. Until my phone started vibrating. It was Vanessa. Of course, the reason why he wasn't here. Vanessa: Oops. Seems they can't see you today, sister. They're occupied-with me. Have fun alone. I stared at the screen, and their photos together. Once, I might've cried. But not now. I stood up, head held high, and called over the manager. "I need to leave something," I said. I opened my purse and placed a small bundle of papers on the table. A copy of our fake marriage certificate. The hospital report of our baby's death. And the wedding Chapter 5 "No," I said firmly, pulling my arm away. You're being ridiculous." And before I could take another breath, the three of them had grabbed my arms. I fought back, I really did-but I was weak, still recovering, and outnumbered. They hauled me into the car like a prisoner, drove me straight to the hospital. Within the hour, they had strapped me in, ignored my pleas, and took as much blood as they could. I watched the bags fill with crimson, watched the nurses shake their heads at the number of vials ordered. Then, everything faded. Darkness took over. When I woke up, my body felt hollow-drained, cold, and sore. My vision blurred before it settled on the face I least wanted to see. Vanessa. She sat at the edge of the hospital bed, holding a tray of food. "You're awake," she said gently. "I brought you something to eat." I blinked, and for a moment, my heart wanted to believe she meant it. Until I remembered everything. I pushed the tray off the bed. The plate clattered to the floor. The door burst open. Troy. Van. Travis. "What the hell is wrong with you?" Travis barked. "She brought you food!" "You're unbelievable," Troy added. "She's trying to fix things and you act like this?" "She forced me to give blood!" I screamed. "You all did!" "Taylor…" Vanessa said softly. "Please, don't be like this. You're my sister. I just wanted to make things right." She leaned in to hug me. Her lips close to my ear. "You see now?" she whispered sweetly. "They don't want you anymore. So behave." I froze. Troy glared at me. "Apologize. Right now." My lips trembled. "I didn't do anything wrong." "Taylor," Van said, voice dripping with warning. I swallowed back everything I wanted to say. "Fine," I muttered. "I'm sorry." Not because I meant it. But because I was too tired to fight. They all nodded, satisfied. As if I were a misbehaving child finally brought to heel. I closed my eyes and turned away from them. Pretending to sleep. Pretending not to hear Vanessa's fake sobs or my brothers comforting her. I stayed that way until they left. Later that night, my phone buzzed. Scott: Tomorrow is the day. Still ready? I stared at the message and replied: Yes. The next morning, I didn't want to leave the hospital. My body was sore, my heart even more so. Every part of me screamed not to go-but Troy had insisted. "We need this," he told me flatly, not asking but commanding. "You owe it to Vanessa and the rest of us to stop acting like a child. You said yes to the date-so go." And so I went. Not because I wanted to. But because saying no would only bring more blame, more shouting, more guilt shoved down my throat like medicine I never asked for. I wore a soft dress-the same one I had worn on our first date, back when I still believed in things like love and forever. Back when Troy held my hand like it was a promise, not a burden Back when I thought I mattered. He said we'd meet at the restaurant. Just the two of us. To make things right. So I waited. I arrived early, unsure if I was hoping he would show… or hoping he wouldn't. The waitress brought me water. Then asked again if I wanted to order. But minutes passed. Then an hour. The waitress came by, offering water and a strained smile. I gave her the same in return and politely declined to order. "I'm waiting for someone," I said, forcing a smile. "He'll be here soon." But he wasn't. Neither was Travis. Nor Van. checked my phone. Nothing. I waited another hour. Still nothing. The glass of water had gone warm. The restaurant had changed its playlist three times. My back was aching from sitting too straight, too long. I stared at the door, every time thinking-maybe now. Maybe now, he'll come. Until my phone started vibrating. It was Vanessa. Of course, the reason why he wasn't here. Vanessa: Oops. Seems they can't see you today, sister. They're occupied-with me. Have fun alone. I stared at the screen, and their photos together. Once, I might've cried. But not now. I stood up, head held high, and called over the manager. "I need to leave something," I said. I opened my purse and placed a small bundle of papers on the table. A copy of our fake marriage certificate. The hospital report of our baby's death. And the wedding ring he had given me five years ago. "If they ever come looking for me," I said, "give them this. Tell them Taylor Jones is gone." I turned and walked out, the bell above the door jingling like the end of a chapter. Scott was waiting by the sidewalk, just like he said he would. He stepped forward, holding out his hand. "Ready?" I nodded. "More than ever." He led me to the car, and together, we drove straight to the airport. I pulled out my phone, looked at the screen filled with messages from the past-photos memories, numbers I no longer wanted to remember. I opened the SIM tray. Took it out. And tossed it into the bin. Gone. As I boarded the plane beside Scott, a strange calm washed over me. Tomorrow, when they look for me-when they realize I'm gone-maybe they'll search for me. But they'll never find me again.