There were witnesses.
There were adults listening.
There would be consequences.
When we finally walked outside, I found Linda near her car.
For a moment, neither of us spoke.
Then I said, “I was jealous of you.”
Linda looked surprised.
“I hated how often Emily called you first. How much you knew about her school, her friends, everything.”
Her expression softened.
“I was never trying to replace you, Rachel.”
“I know.”
She glanced toward Emily.
“I was just standing in the empty chair.”
That hurt.
Mostly because she was right.
Emily waited near the school entrance holding her choir folder.
When I approached, she looked at me as though she still couldn’t quite believe I was there.
“You came.”
Two simple words.
They hurt more than any accusation could have.
“I should’ve been coming all along.”
She looked down.
“Grandma said you told your boss no.”
“I did.”
“Are you going to get fired?”
