Still Her

The next morning, Hannah was lecturing Noah.

“I’m doing this for Maya. Danny is stupid, yes, but that means he won’t cheat. Isn’t a stable life what women want?”

I had already called Carl.

The phone in my pocket transmitted every word.

Hannah continued,

“I’m not even taking bride money for myself.”

The front door crashed open.

Carl stormed in.

“You lying whore!”

He grabbed Hannah and slapped her to the ground.

Noah jumped up.

Carl hit her again.

“Fifty thousand wasn’t enough? You want eighty?”

Noah froze.

“What?”

Carl spat at him.

“You useless man. Can’t control your wife, can’t protect your sister. If I were you, I’d be too ashamed to live.”

Something in Noah snapped.

He lunged.

The fight was ugly.

Desperate.

Noah beat Carl until Carl collapsed, unmoving.

Then he turned to Hannah.

“Is it true?”

For once, Hannah looked afraid.

“No. He’s lying.”

Noah looked at me.

I took out my phone.

Hannah’s own voice filled the room.

Your brother is stupid, but useful.

Fifty thousand. Another thirty on the wedding day.

He loves me too much to do anything.

Noah stood silent.

I watched his face.

Shock.

Pain.

Shame.

Rage.

Then he moved.

He snatched my phone and smashed it against the floor.

The screen shattered.

So did something final between us.

“Noah,” I said.

His voice broke.

“You are my sister.”

He looked at Hannah.

Then back at me.

“But I can’t lose her.”

Hannah laughed.

“See, Maya? He will always choose me.”

I thought I would cry harder.

Instead, I felt empty.

A clean emptiness.

The kind that comes after the last thread snaps.