Chapter 12 - THE SISTER WHO LOST HER MIRROR
Rachel's marriage ended soon afterward.
Tom filed for divorce.
The property and financial investigations continued.
Rachel's friends began distancing themselves.
The glamorous life she had displayed online became harder to maintain.
Her new car was sold.
The expensive renovation stopped halfway through.
And the anniversary photographs disappeared from her social media accounts.
One evening, my mother called.
“Claire, Rachel wants to apologize.”
I stared at the wall.
“Then she can write me a letter.”
My mother sighed.
“She misses you.”
I closed my eyes.
“Mom, missing someone isn't the same as taking responsibility.”
There was silence.
Then Mom whispered:
“I know.”
Two weeks later, a letter arrived.
Rachel's handwriting.
I recognized it immediately.
She apologized for the affair.
For the property scheme.
For the humiliation.
She admitted she had spent years comparing herself with me.
She said she had convinced herself that my happiness meant there was less happiness available for her.
I read the letter twice.
Then put it away.
May you like
I wasn't ready to forgive her.
And for the first time, I didn't feel guilty about that.
