I hadn’t listened. I believed that love alone would be enough.
But now?
Now I understood. She hadn’t wanted to be my sister. She wanted to replace me.
I finished packing the rest of my belongings. Then I carried the memory box to the backyard. I struck a match.
The flames caught almost immediately. Letters curled and blackened. Bracelets twisted in the heat, their golden shine turning lifeless. Photographs disintegrated into ash.
“Elena!”
I looked up to see Nathan running from inside, panic etched across his face.
“What are you doing?!” he shouted. “Those… those are our albums! The bracelets?!”
“Yes,” I replied, simply. “I’m destroying all our memories.”
He stepped closer, but I planted myself in front of the fire, blocking him. “It’s over. All of it.”
Gabriel appeared moments later, looking equally shocked.
“Is this some kind of tantrum?” he asked, arms folded. “We get it, you’re upset. But this… this is extreme, even for you.”
“This isn’t a tantrum,” I said, voice steady and calm. “This is the end.”
“You’re really going to let one terrible night erase years of friendship?” Nathan asked. “Elena, please… we can talk—”