Part 228th Runaway, I Let Her Go.

One step. Two steps. Three.

We were almost at the precinct door when Aria's voice cut through the air.

"Fine! Don't send her away!" she yelled. "But you're taking me to buy the laptop and the Switch. Right now!"

She ordered us around as if we owed her, her tone dripping with entitlement.

But in the end, we gave in.

We took her to the mall and bought her everything she wanted. By the time we finally got home, it was late.

Gina heard the door open and came pattering down the stairs. The moment she saw Aria, she shrank back, her voice a small, timid whisper. "Hi, Aria."

Aria didn't even glance at her. "Who said you could call me that? Get away from me."

"Don't talk to your sister like that," I warned. "You two are family, not enemies."

Aria shot me a look of pure contempt. "I never asked for a sister. She's a little freeloader you and Dad made because you got horny and couldn't be bothered to use a condom. What's that got to do with me?"

"Aria!" David's voice was sharp with shock. "Where did you learn to talk like that?"

He sighed, rubbing his temples in exhaustion. "We're a family, Aria. Can't you please stop talking like we're at war?"

Aria just sneered. "It's your fault for playing favorites. If you can't treat two kids equally, why have them in the first place?"

In that moment, I was so tired I could barely breathe.

"Aria," I said, my voice low. "Do you really want to know why we have two children in this house? I'll tell you right now—"

"Sarah, don't!"

The words died in my throat as David grabbed my arm, his grip tight. He was always the patient one, the peacemaker.

"Aria, Gina," he said, trying to smooth things over. "Let's just put this behind us. Can you two please try to get along from now on? Mom and I swear, we will love you both exactly the same. No favorites."

Gina nodded immediately, her eyes wide and earnest. "I promise, Daddy."

Aria let out a derisive snort. "Yeah, right. She's the baby. You'll always take her side."

I fought back a wave of irritation. "Then what do you want us to do, Aria?"

She shot a venomous glare at Gina. "I already told you. Send her to Grandma's house! I want you to love only me!"

My voice rose despite myself. "Aria, I just told you, that is not going to happen!"

A sly, calculating look crossed her face. She folded her arms. "Oh, it's not? Then I'll just go on a hunger strike."

She looked so sure of herself, so utterly convinced that we would fold, just like always.

Without another word, she spun around and stomped up the stairs, slamming her bedroom door with a deafening bang that shook the whole house.

Gina flinched, her small body trembling. After a moment, she hesitantly reached for my hand.

"Mommy," she whispered, her eyes filling with tears, "I don't want to go to Grandma's. And I don't want Aria to starve…"

The sight of her tears made my heart ache. I knelt and gently wiped them away.

"Gina, honey, this is not your fault. And don't worry, Mom and Dad will never, ever send you away."

"...But what about Aria?"

I sighed, a cold weariness settling over me. We had coddled her for too long.

"This time," I said, my voice hard, "no one is going to give in to her."