Chapter 2

The sharp, acrid smell of burnt gunpowder filled the air. The blisters on my palms burned like fire.

Julian simply patted my head, stood up, and pulled a pack of sparklers from his pocket. He handed them to Chloe.

A warm smile touched his lips. "You've been wanting to light these, right? I bought them just for you."

Chloe's eyes lit up. She grabbed his sleeve. "Oh my god, thank you! Let's go over there. We don't want to accidentally burn Sera again."

"Yeah, Sera can just watch from here." Julian let her drag him away, waving back at me over his shoulder.

Chloe twirled around with the sparklers. Julian knelt down, patiently adjusting his phone camera to take the perfect shot of her.

I froze. My nails dug deeper into my palms. I suddenly remembered six months ago, when the three of us had watched fireworks together. Julian had taken photos of me back then, whispering, "Sera, you're more beautiful than any firework."

That memory felt like a slap in the face.

I gripped the armrests of my wheelchair. My chest tightened so much I could barely breathe.

Just then, the sky darkened, and a heavy downpour began.

Chloe shrieked. Julian immediately took off his designer jacket, draped it over her head, and pulled her close as they ran toward the parking lot.

Not once did he look back.

Panic seized me. I screamed with all the strength left in my lungs, "Julian, wait for me!"

But the thunder was too loud. My voice was drowned out by the rain.

They didn't hear me. Or they chose not to.

"Wait for me!"

I pushed my wheelchair forward, desperately trying to catch up. But the wheels kept slipping on the wet, muddy gravel.

Ignoring the stinging pain in my blistered hands, I pushed the wheels again and again, moving forward inch by painful inch.

Their figures blurred in the distance. Sheltered under a single jacket, they vanished into the parking lot.

I opened my mouth, but no sound came out. A wave of cold despair washed over me.

I stopped. I couldn't feel my legs, my clothes were soaked, and rain mixed with hot tears streamed down my face.

My wheelchair tipped over in the mud several times. By the time I finally dragged myself back to our apartment door, my body was shivering and stiff. It had taken me an hour.

I raised my trembling hand and knocked.

Julian opened the door. He was wearing dry, cozy loungewear.

Chloe was sitting on the couch, laughing at a reality show on TV.

Seeing me, she smirked. "Julian, I won! I told you Sera wouldn't call you for help!"