Chapter 37

Anita’s Pov

The clinking of glasses echoed in the small living room as the three of us—me, my best friend Martha and her brother Zach, sat sprawled out on the worn-out couch, our cheeks flushed red from the wine we’d been sipping.

Martha was the first to break the silence, her voice cracking as she spoke, “Anita… I just—” She paused, her eyes glistening with unshed tears as she looked at me. “Your life has been so hard… harder than anyone should ever have to endure.”

I reached out, placing my hand on hers. “Martha, don’t—”

“No,” she interrupted, shaking her head, tears now freely flowing down her cheeks. “Since your mom died… and then your dad’s remarriage… it’s been worse than anything I could have imagined. Worse than Cinderella, even.” She let out a soft laugh through her tears, but her voice trembled with the weight of the memories. “You didn’t deserve any of it.”