Amidst the clinking of glasses and the sound of music, the weight of my absence pressed heavily on my chest. I had wanted to be part of this world, to share in the laughter and success. But as the night wore on, I realized how futile that desire had been. Martinez had never wanted me here, and now I was just a ghost haunting the edges of their perfect lives.
As the evening began to wind down, I watched Leo mingle with the guests, putting on a brave face even as worry clouded his eyes. He was the one who truly cared, the one who noticed when something was off. I wanted to reach out, to let him know I was still here, still his sister, but the words wouldn’t come.
Hours passed, and as guests began to leave, their laughter fading into the night, Leo lingered for a moment longer. His expression was somber as he looked around, probably searching for a sign of me. I felt a flicker of hope that he might realize I was gone, that he might search for me, but that moment passed as quickly as it came.