I Wish You Were

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I came home from school and collapsed on the couch. It had been a long day and nearly ALL my teachers had given me homework.

I was going to get right to it until Mom said “Christy, you're taking your sister to ice skating practice today, no objections”

I wanted to scream. I argued with Mom and when that didn't change anything, I argued with Dad. He tried to silence me with the ‘If you didn't have a sister, you'd wish you did,’ spiel. Every parent says that as an excuse for ‘We may say we love you, but deep down…you’re the third parent so shut up.’

If I didn’t have a sister I'd be happy that I could focus on my priorities, like getting homework done.

I flopped onto my bed, absolutely devastated. Shiloh got everything she ever wanted. It's not like I was an ice skating super-star too. Once I took her to practice I'd be the awkward older sister, A.K.A bench warmer, A.K.A Shiloh's book bag hook. I was done doing things for a girl who constantly stole my phone and clothes. I took my diary and went on a rant.

I seriously have no love left for my younger sister, she ruins everything. I wish Shiloh would just disappear out of existence!

It was a little harsh, but they treat her so much better than me so who cares? Maybe if they didn’t favor her so much I would have no reason to write something like that. Even though I wrote how much I hated Shiloh, I still had to take her to practice the moment she came home from school.

Except she didn't come home from school. Not at 4:00, 4:30, or even at 5:00.

Mom and Dad began to worry, but I was confused. What was the hold up? Did she miss the bus? Did she sneak and go to a friend's house again?

Mom was on the same thinking track and said she'd check if Shiloh was at one of her friend's houses near the shcool. Dad said he was going up to her school.

Everyone except me went in search of Shiloh and the house became a silent cavity.

Well, at least I had the house to myself right?

I sat at the table and started on my homework, but I couldn't really focus because my mind kept wandering to Shiloh. Middle schoolers don't get invited to house parties, so where could she be?

I huffed and scrolled on my phone. Once I passed the lock screen, I saw an ugly picture of Shiloh posing with duck lips. So she had stolen my phone this morning, and changed the background to a selfie of her. Oooh, just wait until she gets home… if she got home.

I decided to watch TV. The news always had something crazy terrible going on right? Something like that might take my mind off-

“Breaking News: Kids missing from North Rurry Middle School. A few kids left school early and did not return-”

I turned the TV off. My breathing quickened, and I looked around the dusty house.

Shiloh was one of those missing kids wasn't she? It felt like there was a weight on my chest.

I got up and put on my jacket. I was going to find Shiloh. First I’d go to her friends houses around here, then I’d ride my mo-ped to the police station.

I thought for a moment. I rushed upstairs, went to my notebook and re-read all I had written.

I seriously have no love left for my younger sister, she ruins everything. I wish she would just disappear out of existence!

I quickly erased it, dodging teardrops that fell into the page. Screw friends' houses. I was going to the police first.

My moped hummed up the street. A figure blurred past me and yelled “Christy!”

I turned. Standing on the sidewalk with red eyes and a tear-streamed face, was Shiloh.

I fingered the water out of my eyes. “Shiloh, hop on!”

I drove us back down the road to our house, and as soon as we were inside I grilled her. “Where were you?”

“The school bus didn’t come. Me and some other kids were waiting for hours. When it still didn’t come by 4:45, I walked home. When I was walking I saw the bus drive by and everybody was laughing at me and crap.

“Oh,” I said, grabbing my phone and bringing Shiloh to the couch. “Is that why you’re crying?”

“No,” Shiloh sniffled. “I’m crying because…because at school I said I wished you would die because you’re so mean to me, but I don’t really wish you would die, and as I was walking home I had a terrible thought about if you died at home, and I would never forgive myself.

“Huh,” So I wasn’t the only evil sister here.

I texted our parents that Shiloh was home. “Mom and Dad were worried sick y’know.”

Shiloh crossed her arms. “Well, I don’t have a phone. Maybe if they stopped favoring you so much and bought me a phone I’d be able to tell them where I’m at.”

I laughed. “Well, Imma make us some hot chocolate, how's that sound?”

Shiloh smiled. “Good.”

As we sipped on hot chocolate, I asked Shiloh about the missing kids. She said it was a few kids from her class that loved starting trouble and decided to skip school.

Shiloh placed her mug in the sink. “How much time do we have before ice skating? Mom said you were taking me to practice this morning.”

“She told you that in morning!?” I rolled my eyes. “Figures. We’ve got thirty minutes.”

“Cool,” Shiloh made her way to the stairs to change into her skating clothes. “And by the way, I don’t really want you to die, Christy. I’ll never say that in my life again.”

“And I don’t want anything bad to happen to you,” I hugged Shiloh. “Now hurry up and change before we’re late and I don’t wanna take you anymore.”

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My latest novel, Shook, is being published to Hive in parts! See all released chapters in this post.

Hey there! I’m Shila! I’ve loved books since I could read, and decided I would write books I wanted to see written for others! Check my children’s book Imagination on Amazon!

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