Chapter 1
Zia
I was sitting at the dinner table, my fork chasing the vegetables around the plate. “Have you found a job as yet, or are you still playing around with that computer?” My father’s voice brought me out of my thoughts.
“Oh Mom, I saw the bag. Can we get it tomorrow?” Ally said from beside me.
“Of course, Sweetie,” Mom replied, smiling. I dropped my fork onto the plate and looked at them. Ally had that same smirk on her face. My mother looked at me with feigned interest.
“Why doesn’t she have to work?” I asked, but I already knew the answer. Ally scoffed, and my mother gave me that not this again look.
“You know exactly why Ally cannot work.” My father said, And there it was.
“I don’t see the problem that you both see; she has enough energy to go shopping and flaunt on social media, to prance aroud and no responsibilities. Why am I the only one with responsibilities?” I asked, looking at them.
My father's face started turning red, my mother looked annoyed, and the idiot beside me was smirking. I stood up, my chair scraping against the floor.
“Thanks for dinner.” I said, throwing down the napkin and walking out. I walked out the front door to my father yelling my name and Ally crying. I walked down the driveway and down the sidewalk. I had no idea where I was going but just away from them.
That was always the result. Whenever I asked questions, that was the answer. Ally could die; Ally is sick; Alisson Ryan, or Ally Nineteen years old, she was our parents favorite and golden child; she could do no fucking wrong.
I was five when Ally was born. I don’t remember much, but I remember my parents being worried about the baby. It wasn’t until I was nine that I fully understood. Ally was born with a hole in her heart, which caused our parents to dote on her. She was nine when the doctor cleared her, but that has been her and my parents’ excuse. She was born on the 20th of May, and I was born on the 25th of May. I never had a birthday party that didn’t involve Ally. It was her half birthday, as she declared, and mine was forgotten.
I was pushed to the back burner, I was forgotten, and Ally took center stage; their lives revolved around her wants and needs. My sixteenth birthday was spent in a crappy kids joint downtown because that was what the princess wanted. I had only one person I could depend on, my bestest friend and only confidante in the entire world. Angela or Angie.
I just thought if I worked harder, they would see me. I thought if I did more around the house, they would see it and appreciate it, but it never happened. They missed my graduation because Ally had a meltdown, she didn’t find anything to wear. Ally’s meltdowns were the bane of my fucking existence, so I ignored them.
My phone began ringing in my pocket. I pulled it out and looked at the name. Mom. I didn’t want to answer, but I did anyway. Hope was a dangerous thing. I clung to that hope that they would somehow see me.
“Yes, Mom?’”
“Zia, can you come home? Your father… he… I think he’s having a heart attack,” she said. I could hear the panic in her voice. I ended the call and ran the five minutes back home. When I rushed through the door, they were in the living room. My father was on the couch holding his chest.
“Did you call an ambulance?” I asked Mom.
“Yes, I don’t know what happened. We were talking, he received a call, and then he just suddenly grabbed his chest.” She said in panic. I heard the Sirens. I looked at Ally, who was still on her phone.
“CAN YOU FUCKING STOP FOR ONE MINUTE AND GO LEAD THE PARAMEDICS IN?” I yelled at her.
“There’s no need to yell at your sister,” Mom said, and I looked at her.
“Fine,” I said, throwing up my hands and walking out of the living room. “Zia, where are you going?” She asked.
“Me? Since your precious daughter can’t assist in making sure the paramedics get to her father in time, then why should I? You don’t want me to say anything, so as a mother maybe you should, or as he’s your husband, you might want to let them in, or you’ll be a widow. He isn’t my father alone.” I said. Her face went pale. I heard the knock on the front door; that was when the idiot stood up and opened the door. Two paramedics walked in and went over to him and began checking him. Asking him a series of questions. They checked his heartbeat. One stood up and looked at us.
“It was just a very bad case of acid reflux, but it may feel like a heart attack,” he said. I let out a breath I didn’t know I was holding. After a while they left. I stood bracing against the wall. My mother kept staring at me.
“Aren’t you going to apologize to Mom?” Ally asked.
I looked at her but didn’t answer. “I can’t do this anymore. I help around the house as much as I can, but you refuse to see what your favoritism is doing to this family and me. When is Ally going to grow up? When will you start holding her responsible…” I let out a sigh. I really didn’t want to do this now, but I couldn’t do this anymore.
“I’m moving out. I can’t do this anymore.” I said, walking up the stairs. I walked into my room, the place that has been my sanctuary, my starting place, for the past twenty-four years. I grabbed the rarely used suitcase out of the closet and began packing my essentials. I grabbed all my laptops, my books, and some clothes.
I pulled my phone out and texted Angie.
Messages
Zia: I’m done. Can you come get me and bring my stuff?
Angie: Finally. On my way, boo.
I could always count on Angie. I pulled my suitcase down the stairs.
“Zia, wait. Please don’t leave; I’ll change. I promise.” Ally said, grabbing my wrist.
“No, you won’t because they won’t allow it, and I’m done with this.” I said, pulling my hands away.
“Fifty million,” my father said, and I stopped and looked at him.
“The Thornes, When... When Ally was born and we learned that she was sick... I… we borrowed fifty million from the Thornes for the surgery and bills,” he said quietly, and I could feel the blood drain from my face. I looked at my mother, and her face was pale.
“And?” I asked, prompting him.
“I… I… only managed to pay five hundred thousand dollars back. Alaric Thorne called me earlier. I… I had made a deal. If by the time Ally turns nineteen and I couldn’t repay it, then I would give you to him,” he said.