Chapter 4When I Felt What She Felt

Sera was always like this. She’d boss me around and yell at me over the smallest things, but she always claimed it was because she cared, because it pained her to see me hurt.

If I accidentally bumped into a desk corner, she’d curse me out for not watching where I was going, then turn around and stick a protective foam strip on it.

When I’d get upset by her attitude, she’d cling to my arm and whine, "Elara, I’m just worried about you. You know I have the best intentions, right?"

Because of my family situation, I’d never had many friends. Like an idiot, I saw our toxic friendship as a form of salvation. I thought her harsh words were just her way of showing she cared.

It wasn't until I saw those floating comments that I understood.

Her so-called sisterly devotion was just a way to manage her personal pain sponge.

To say I wasn't furious would be a lie. But I was also morbidly curious. If my injuries appeared on her, how much of the pain did she actually feel?

"Sera, you really do care about me, don't you?" I said, drawing out the last word. She didn’t catch the sarcasm in my tone.

Her eyelashes fluttered, a flicker of smug superiority in her eyes. "Of course I do. You were the first person who was nice to me when I transferred here."

I lowered my gaze, fiddling with the pen in my hand. When she was the new girl and everyone was ignoring her, I had been the one to offer her the seat next to me, to help her fit in.

I was really starting to regret being so damn helpful.