Nina Is Not a Thief

Two years ago, my older sister Jaslyn and I were trapped in a housefire.

The firefighters told Mom she had to make a choice. They could only save one of us.

Mom chose me because I was closer to the door.

Later, when she learned that the fire had been caused by us breaking into the neighbor's house to steal stuff, she grabbed me by the hair and yelled at me.

"Your sister Jaslyn was a model student. There's no way she would steal anything.

"You're the thief! If it weren't for you, she wouldn't have died!"