My Body Was Left Unclaimed for Five Years

Chapter 3 Fractured Ties

"I stood there, powerless, as she dumped my antidepressants into the toilet and flushed them away. When Caleb returned, she instantly played the victim, accusing me of hitting her and trying to throw her out. Caleb's gaze was cold when he looked at me.

"He pressed his lips tightly and said in a measured tone, 'Do you want to live here or not? If you do, apologize to Stella!' I moved to leave, half-hoping he would stop me. But instead, he took every penny, my bank cards, and my ID. He even took the clothes on my back. 'If you're leaving, leave everything I provided. Tomorrow, I'll let everyone know you're no longer my sister!'

"Behind him, Stella grinned triumphantly, clearly pleased with herself. It's been a full two years. Two years since my brother brought Stella home as his so-called god-sister, marking the beginning of my torment.

"With our parents long gone, it was just Caleb and me. I couldn't come to terms with the fact that he brought someone else into our lives, and even more so, how he constantly put her first. Things that were once mine, Caleb would double up on and let her pick first.

"During his rare days off, if I wanted a movie and Stella wanted to shop, Caleb would always convince me to reschedule the movie. 'We can catch it later.' He would say, 'Let's get the shopping done first.'

"Yet, that 'later' never materialized. Stella always got her way. I despised how that felt. Having an intruder quietly strip away everything while I had to pretend to be the considerate sibling.

"But my love for Caleb ran deep. He was my brother, after all. If he hadn't pulled me from the rubble during the earthquake, I would have perished with our parents. So I chose to endure, for Caleb's sake.

"In half a year, I had learned to give Stella the best of everything without Caleb even having to ask. Whatever she wanted or needed took precedence. But that came at a cost, my depression.

"By the time I sought medical help, it had intensified into something severe. The psychiatrist said the roots of my depression lay in my parent's death, and Stella's arrival simply nurtured its growth. I withdrew more, donning a mask of indifference. Even when Caleb tried to lift my spirits, I felt nothing.

"Eventually, Caleb's frustration mounted. He accused me of being cold and petty, of resenting Stella's happiness, of being difficult. I wanted to explain but was lost for words. As a result, the chasm between Caleb and me only grew, until now, where neither of us is willing to set aside our pride and reconcile. I ended up at Wendy's house.

"It was quite a trek, taking me three hours on foot and leaving blisters on my feet. As she bandaged them, she chided, 'What's going on with your brother? Has he lost his mind? Stay here with me!' I forced a small smile, swallowing my bitterness. 'I have to go back. Caleb will come for me in a few days.'

"With Christmas around the corner, and having never been apart since birth, I believed Caleb couldn't bear the distance."

Jane's voice suddenly halted.

After a moment, she continued.