Chapter 3

I listened, stunned.

I knew what death was.

Mom used to say:

"Death is becoming a bright star in the sky, but Mom can't touch my Skylar, or hug my Skylar anymore."

So, death meant no longer being able to touch or hug.

Dad believed Mom was dead, and from then on, he could never hug her again.

That's why, when he could barely stand, he pulled a woman into a tight embrace.

Dad was sad for a month, the sorrow gradually fading from his face.

One day, Michelle moved into our house with her son, Leo, who was two years younger than me.

"Skylar, say Mom."

Dad took my hand, trying to get me to go closer to Michelle.

I kept my mouth tightly shut, stubbornly staring at the floor, shaking my head.

"I only have one mom, and she's playing a very long game of hide-and-seek."

Michelle looked a little awkward and quickly stepped in to defuse the awkwardness:

"It's alright, it's alright. Just call me Michelle."

Dad took me to a psychologist, who said I had PTSD.

I put the pills in my mouth in front of Dad, but as soon as he left, I spit them into the toilet.

"It's the grown-ups who need medicine, not me."

I watched the swirling water, thinking,

"I'm not sick. You're all just too stupid; Mom fooled all of you. You have no idea how clever she is."

After a while, Dad found out I wasn't taking my medicine.

"Skylar Stone! Why aren't you taking your pills!"

His voice trembled with anger,

"Do you want to keep living in this delusional world?"

I just looked at him silently, completely unwavering.

The standoff ended with Dad slamming the door and leaving.

Dad's patience, worn thin by repeated failures, increasingly turned towards Leo.

Listening to Leo share stories about school, taking Leo to the company, giving Leo tasks.

The plan to groom me as his successor, once showered upon me, had quietly shifted its target.

I didn't like Leo because he always ran into my room and messed with my things.

When I told Dad, he just said:

"He's just a kid, Skylar. You're the older sister; you need to be more patient with him."

Leo broke the last model Mom and I had built together, and I flew into a rage, screaming at him to get out of our house.

Dad's scolding was harsher than I'd ever heard.

"Skylar Stone! How can you treat your brother like that! Go to your room! No dinner for you tonight!"

It was the first time Dad had punished me for someone else.

I became increasingly withdrawn.

Often, I'd stay in my room alone, caressing the dog tag around my neck, staring out the window for long periods.

Dad looked at my mediocre grades on my report card, and the disappointment in his eyes grew stronger.

He stopped inviting me to the dinners I used to attend; only Leo's outfits were prepared.

That day, Dad came home very late.

As soon as he opened the door, I heard his laughter with Michelle, and Leo's triumphant voice.

"Dad, everyone says I have your style."

Dad ruffled Leo's hair:

"Of course, you're my son. The company will be yours someday; you're much stronger than your sister."

After saying that, he saw me sitting silently in the living room.

A flicker of awkwardness crossed Dad's face.

"Skylar, you're still up this late?"

I nodded:

"Came out for water."

"Dad, I was so good today, can I have a reward?"

Leo's voice was bright and clear.

Dad's gaze immediately turned to Leo, his eyes filled with doting affection:

"What do you want? Dad will get you anything."

Leo pointed at me:

"That! That tag around my sister's neck!"