From Appalachian Dirt To Tech Heiress

My first life ended abruptly, with the screech of tires and the brutal impact of a car driven by my younger sister, Stella.

I had always been the compliant one, funding her endless "mistakes" and even giving her the man I loved, Matthew.

As I lay dying, the last thing I heard wasn't an apology, but my parents' voices telling the police, "She was the older sister; she should have been more understanding."

Their words, not the collision, were the ultimate betrayal.

Then, darkness. But not oblivion.

I woke up, seventeen again, surrounded by the familiar scent of pine and damp earth in our Appalachian home.

The horrifying map of my future, burned into my memory, was now a chance for a different path.

This time, I would never again seek their love. This time, I would live only for myself.