Chapter 4
655 Words
I looked down at my phone screen.
Under my post, fans were actually speaking up for me.
A: [Was the rescue team’s decision back then really the right call?]
B: [Isn't the number one rule of professional rescue to save whoever is closest? Valerie Cole is a tragic case and all, but she shouldn't get to break protocol, right?]
Some fired-up fans had even gone straight to Valerie’s account to question her in the comments.
Valerie sobbed softly. "I know everyone prefers Audrey. I was always just the runner-up anyway."
My brother glared at me. "Audrey, I never expected you to stoop this low."
I opened my mouth, desperate to tell him that wasn't what I intended at all.
But my brother cut me off without a second thought, "To make up for the distress Valerie has been through, I’ve decided to bring her home. Your room gets the best sunlight, which is ideal for her recovery, so Valerie will be taking it over for now."
It took my brain a few seconds to fully process what he was telling me.
"David! That is my room! Mom and Dad left that to me!"
My brother looked right through me. "The house is in my name. I’ll let whoever I want live in it." He grabbed Valerie by the hand and turned to walk out.
I looked back down at my phone and opened my profile, scrolling through the feed. I have posted so much of my daily life with my brother over the years.
There were photos of him staying up late to help me with my homework, fast asleep at his desk. There was a video of him leaping up and down wildly in the crowd when I won my very first skiing championship.
My followers all knew we were siblings who only had each other, and they always commented about how jealous they were that I had such an amazing brother.
I scrolled through the posts one by one, tears silently streaming down my face.
Right then, a brand-new post popped up on the home feed. It was posted by Valerie.
In the photo, my brother was standing in the kitchen wearing an apron, holding a fresh bowl of creamy tomato soup.
I stared at that picture, feeling an actual, physical squeeze in my chest.
That was Mom’s absolute favorite dish to cook when she was alive. After she passed away, my brother tried over and over again until he finally managed to recreate her exact recipe.
Before every single one of my races, he would make it for me, telling me it was our family’s lucky soup.
Now, he was making it for someone else.
I shut off my phone. My tears had completely dried up, leaving behind nothing but a heavy, hollow ache.
Not long after, a notification chimed. It was a DM from a long-time fan, Anna.
Anna: Audrey, just a little something from the heart. Wishing you a speedy recovery.
Attached was a money transfer.
Immediately after, another DM popped up. It was another fan, sending words of encouragement along with another transfer. One after another, my inbox flooded with the pure kindness of total strangers. They all said the same thing, that no matter what happens, I will always be their pride.
Tears welled up all over again, and my exhausted, battered heart managed a faint flutter. It turned out there were still people in this world who cared about me. Even if I could never set foot on a mountain again, I was still Audrey Vance.
The money they sent was enough to cover my surgery.
I wiped away my tears and wheeled myself down to the billing desk to pay. I handed my bank card to the nurse.
She ran the card, but her expression suddenly morphed into something incredibly awkward.
I looked at her, completely confused.
"Miss Vance, the balance on this card is insufficient..."
- Writer
