AllFreeNovel
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“Our eldest sister cheats,” he says without missing a beat, just like he always does when I bring up his inability to beat Trinity in Monopoly. “There’s no other way she’d be able to beat me.”
I let out a laugh. He and Trin have always had a rivalry that matches best friends rather than siblings. They were pretty much raised together until Richie’s parents passed away, and in their will, they had Lynette as the next in line for guardianship. They knew how much Mama wanted to have a big family.
“You need to visit Lansing again. Emmy loves your pink hair to the point that I might have to fight her out of getting pink curls added to hers.”
“Everything should be ready for you to sell the house.”
“Also, before you hang up, I know we don’t normally celebrate days like today, but happy birthday.”
I still for a second, remembering that today is my nineteenth birthday. I spent so much time crying and figuring things out that it just snuck up on me. The Reed household doesn’t ignore birthdays; we just don’t make a fuss about them. We’d rather celebrate our adoption days.
We say our goodbyes, and I toss my phone onto the bed. Almost like flipping a switch, I’m brought back to Alliance, Michigan.
I stare at the screen of my YouTube channel, the same one I privately uploaded the mockumentary to. My first proper introduction video is uploading.
Fear still prickles my skin at the thought of people having access to such personal information about my trans journey, but I’ve really fought to be this secure in who I am.
Being trans isn’t my entire identity. But it has shaped who I am as a person, so this is a big step.
My last day in Alliance shouldn’t feel this sad. I should be happy. I’m going to college. I’m going to be living with Ella, and we will be living our bad-bitch fantasies.
The whole point of this trip was for me to move forward.
I found the letters, and I’ll sell the house with Richie’s help. A bow on top of this shitty present from my birth parents. I’m leaving.
I’m leaving Adrien, the pier, the market, and the cove.
They’re Oliver’s friends, but they still checked in on me. Oliver probably asked them to come, but still.
Now, I’m just staring at an empty room. The only thing left in here is the bed. We don’t have enough storage to get rid of the beds, but I’m sure we can sell them soon.
“The car is ready,” Ella calls into my room.
“Thanks.” I’m still lost in thought.
Ella walks into the room and sits down on my bed with me.
“Why do I feel so weird?”
She spares a glance at my laptop screen. “Well, you are about to be more open with strangers than you’ve been with anyone in your life.”
The upload reaches one hundred percent, but I hesitate to publish it.
“Take as much time as you need.” She places a kiss on my forehead before walking to the door.
“Ella,” I call out, stopping her. “Thank you so much for being here for me. I’m sorry I took your entire summer up.”
“Sally, I need you to realize that you’re my sister and best friend. I’d do anything for you, and I know you’d do anything for me.”
I blink away the tears that gather in my eyes. We share a look that speaks louder than any words because we love each other more than anything and will always have each other’s backs through thick and thin.
“Whenever you are ready, we’ll be outside.” She leaves the room.
I take a deep breath and look over the room again. This is really the end of it all. I’m turning my back on this town and the memories from both my childhood and this summer.
I steel my nerves and look down at my screen again. The makeshift thumbnail of me in this room takes up part of the screen.
Well, Miss Girl, say hi to the world.
