Blood Ties

My own mom and brother had been pressuring me to give blood to my stepsister for twelve freakin’ years.

My brother, Jake, used to say, “If anything happens to Lily, you’re gonna regret it.”

Mom was even worse: “Even if it’s your last drop, it belongs to Lily.”

But when I actually kicked the bucket, they were at my graveside, begging for my forgiveness.

1

Today’s my birthday, but all I got was a crummy lab report from the hospital.

Leukemia.

I asked the doctor if someone with cancer could even donate blood.

He said, “Absolutely not.”

I just laughed.

After being a human blood bag for a dozen years, I was finally free.

I’d been busting my ass for three months on an interior design proposal, and guess who wanted it? Lily. She wanted to use it for a design competition.

Last year, she’d ripped off one of my designs, won first place, and snagged herself a rich boyfriend.

She got a taste of success, so now she’s too lazy to steal – just straight up asks.

“Sis, can I have your proposal? If I win, I’ll treat you to dinner, okay?”

She called me like five times, voice all sweet and syrupy.

Listening to her makes my teeth hurt, I swear.

But Mom and Jake love her voice.

When I ignored her calls, she got Mom to dial me up.

“Just give Lily that proposal, will ya? She’s been stressed about this and lost so much weight.”

“But, Mom, I spent three months working on it!”

“So what? It’s just a plan, not like it’s your life!”

I didn’t feel like arguing with Mom, so I hung up.

Lily wouldn’t let it go. She got Jake involved.

She knows Jake’s the one who can get things done.

His method is simple and brutal.

He just called me and said, “Name your price. How much do you want for it?”

“Fifty million dollars. You think you can swing that?”

There was silence on the other end. Then he hung up.

The next day, I got a message from the design association that I was disqualified from the competition.

Like a bucket of ice water dumped on my head.

I was completely numb.

Three months of work, sacrificing sleep, stressing over every detail.

It was all just worthless now.

Jake did this because he hates me.

When I was seven, Dad took me and Lily back to his hometown for the summer. There was a huge flood, and Dad saved me. But when he went back for Lily, he never came back up.

Ever since, they’ve blamed me for not taking care of Lily, for killing two people at once.

“Why are you still alive, but Dad and Lily are gone?”

“Why couldn’t it have been you?”

These words played in a loop in my head.

Every time they felt like a blade through my heart.

2

In eighth grade, my stepdad moved in with Lily.

Lily had a way about her, just like my little sister. Mom and Jake showered her with all the love they had for my sister.

Turns out, Lily’s got anemia and a rare blood type: O negative.

And guess what? So do I.

Mom declared that as long as Lily was healthy, she could have as much of my blood as she needed.

At first, I actually wanted to help Lily.

Ever s...