Wedding Crash

The wind whipped at my face, stinging cold up here on the 18th floor.

Down below, the giant LED screen in the plaza was broadcasting my sister's fairytale wedding to some rich kid, Chad Worthington.

I dialed the number, a mix of familiar and foreign in my mind.

"Hey, sis, congrats on the big day."

Her voice was icy, as usual.

"Luke, you still haven't croaked yet? What's taking you so long?"

I smiled, and with a light step, launched myself into the air.

"Your wish is my command."

1.

The day my sister came back to the States, she picked me up from Harmony Wellness Center.

I stood at the entrance, squinting into the sun, at the woman who looked like she’d stepped out of a magazine.

It had been eight years since I’d seen my sister, Lucy.

Each step I took toward her felt like I was dragging a cement block behind me.

Lucy was leaning against her black Maybach, a cigarette dangling from her lips. The ash was burning way too close to her fingers, but she didn't even flinch.

"Luke, don't think you're out of our clutches just because you're leaving," Dr. Davies whispered behind me. "I have a million ways to get you back here, remember your place."

I froze, then nodded stiffly.

Dr. Davies practically shoved me into Lucy’s arms.

She frowned slightly, then reached for my backpack.

I took a step back. "I got it."

Lucy didn't say anything. She just jumped into the car, gunned the engine, and sped off.

I was transported back in time, my vision blurring.

Back then, Lucy was my biggest protector. If I screwed up, she'd stand in front of our parents, arguing my case until she was blue in the face.

She would shield me from the beatings.

"Luke is my little man, and no one messes with him."

When did things change?

Eight years ago.

It was my birthday, and mom and dad were driving home late that night to celebrate.

They were hit by a semi. They never woke up.

I remember Lucy, kneeling by their bodies, screaming until her throat was raw.

Then, trembling, she pointed at me, her eyes filled with pure hatred. "It's your fault! It's all your fault they're dead! If it wasn’t for you, they’d still be here!"

I’ll never forget that look.

It was as if I, not the truck driver, had killed them.

After that, we were taken in by the Worthingtons.

Lucy was a star student, so Mr. Worthington sent her off to study in Europe. Then eight years went by.

2.

Lucy spoke, breaking my thoughts.

"Chad mentioned you'd been sick? Why didn’t you call me?"

Sick?

I guess I was.

When we first arrived at the Worthingtons’ place, Mr. and Mrs. Worthington were great to us.

So great, that I thought, even without Mom and Dad, Lucy and I had a family.

I was wrong.

After Lucy left, Chad made my life miserable.

He ripped up my homework and told my foster parents I was being a brat.

He got the other kids at school to ignore me, making sure no one even looked my way.

One rainy night years ago, two deranged women dragged me into an alley.

They ripped my uniform, touched...