The Little Wolf They Left Behind

At the Silverpine Pack's annual winter market, Dad bought a Christmas chocolate bar for Chloe and one for me. I accepted mine happily, but Chloe burst into tears.

"Why does she get the same thing as me? Ever since she came along, I haven't been your only baby anymore!"

Mom immediately took the chocolate bar from my hand. "Chloe can have this one too. You can eat something else later."

But I wanted a chocolate bar too. Dad had bought that one for me. I started crying, and Mom suddenly lost her temper.

"You've already taken half of your sister's love away from her. Now you can't even let her have one chocolate bar? You're already competing with her for attention at your age. Who knows how selfish you'll become when you grow up?"

Frightened, I stopped crying and grabbed the hem of her coat. "Please don't be mad, Mommy. Ella won't eat it."

Mom stared at me for a few seconds, but her expression only grew darker. She returned to the stall, bought an entire box of chocolate bars, and shoved it into my arms.

"You wanted chocolate, didn't you? Sit here and finish every one of them. You're not allowed to leave until the box is empty."

With that, she took Chloe's hand and walked away.

Dad did not follow them immediately. He crouched in front of me and stroked my hair, looking uncomfortable. "Stay right here and be good, Ella. Once Mommy calms down, Daddy will come back for you."

I unwrapped one bar, then another. The chocolate was so sweet that it began to taste bitter.

I had just picked up the fifth chocolate bar when a piercing fire alarm rang through the mall.

People screamed and rushed toward the exits. I stayed on the bench. Instead of running with them, I ate faster.

Mom had told me I could not leave until I finished everything. I could not make her angry again.