Chapter 2

2 Perhaps because I was usually so calm and collected, my outburst surprised Ashley. The look of shock quickly turned to disgust. "Jennifer, don't push it!"

Chloe put on a hurt expression.

"Yeah, why are you being so aggressive? Ashley and I weren't even thinking about it like that, we just thought it was fun!"

Fun?

My girlfriend kissing another woman in front of me was fun?

Unplugging my sister's ventilator and letting her suffocate was also fun?

Watching someone's suffering, to them, was it as amusing as crushing an ant?

Pain overwhelmed me, making it difficult to control my expression.

Chloe, with a smug look, suddenly seemed to remember something.

"Oh, Jennifer, how long did your sister last? We were all so curious!"

Her reminder sparked a flurry of discussion.

"Ashley really went all out to impress her girl!"

"You have to give it to Chloe, it was her idea to unplug the ventilator. She's a wild one!"

"I bet a car she wouldn't last five minutes. Don't let me down."

"Don't worry, her sister didn't even look sick. Didn't you see? When they took off the oxygen mask, the little girl was waving her arms around like crazy. She could probably have lasted half an hour."

I remembered Emily's face as she died.

Those outstretched arms, the bulging veins in her hands, she was clearly begging for help!

But these people didn't care. They laughed and joked as her life slipped away right before their eyes.

Hatred burned in my eyes. I wanted them all to suffer with her.

"How long?" I choked out. "Want to unplug your paralyzed mother's ventilator and see how long she lasts?"

I pointed at Chloe's face, challenging her.

Chloe paled, burying her face in Ashley's chest, sobbing dramatically.

"Waaah, Ashley, did you hear her? She said she'd unplug my mom's ventilator!"

"How could she curse my mother like that..."

Ashley comforted Chloe, then turned to glare at me.

"Jennifer, you venomous bitch! You know how important Chloe's mother is to her!"

"I've been too lenient with you!"

My lips trembled. I fought back the tears.

How ridiculous.

Whose life wasn't a life? Who was more precious than whom?

Chloe's mother was important, but wasn't my sister important too?

She was so young, like a pure, delicate snowflake.

Whenever I was exhausted, she would force a smile, encouraging me despite her frail body.

But my strong, optimistic sister died because of their cruel game.

"I'm venomous? What are all of you? You gambled with my sister's life, you're heartless executioners!"

Their laughter died on their lips, taken aback by my words.

Having lost face in front of his friends and his lover, Ashley lost his patience completely.

He swung his arm back and slapped me hard across the face.

My cheek burned, a metallic taste flooding my mouth.

I covered my face, not crying, not begging.

Just staring at Ashley with pure hatred.