After I Was Gone

My mom and dad died heroically in a fire rescue, trying to protect an orphan.

Afterward, my brother brought the orphan, Audrey, home.

To make her smile, he'd throw away photos of me and our parents. He even kicked me out in front of everyone.

For Audrey's coming-of-age celebration, he took her to Cranburn—the place I'd always dreamed of going.

In his eyes, I had nowhere else to go. He believed that once I realized I was wrong, I'd come back on my own.

But what he didn't know was—I had joined an overseas rescue team.

This might be the last time we ever see each other.

When I got the news that my application to join an overseas rescue team had been approved, my feelings were mixed—part relief, part sorrow.

The director informed me the team would be flying out in three days. But the day after tomorrow... that was my brother's birthday.

"Doctor," I asked, hesitating, "do we have to leave in exactly three days?"

I knew it was a difficult question to ask. But this might be the last birthday I ever got to spend with my brother.

"Bella," he replied, "the outbreak overseas is severe. As Doctors Without Borders, we must follow orders."

As a doctor, I knew I had a duty to carry out.

Another colleague added, gently, "Bella, if you're having a hard time letting go, then spend these three days with your family as much as you can."

Leaving the hospital, I couldn't help but think of everything that had happened recently.

My research—the project I'd spent so long working on—had finally shown results. I'd recorded everything carefully in my notebook.

That notebook was kept locked in my drawer. Hardly anyone touched it.

But Audrey—because my brother had shown me the smallest bit of concern—waited until I wasn't home, broke the lock, and destroyed it.

I lost control when I saw the torn pages scattered across the floor. I confronted her.

And right as I raised my voice, she collapsed onto the ground in exaggerated sobs, playing the helpless victim.

My brother rushed in at the sound of her crying. Without even asking what had happened, he scolded me in front of her.

He even said, "Bella, Audrey is family now. In this house, there's nothing she's not allowed to touch. If you can't accept her, then leave."

Ever since Audrey moved into our home, things between Bobby and me had been falling apart.

But the thought of leaving in just three days made all our old arguments seem small.

If I couldn't celebrate his birthday with him, then buying a gift in advance would be my way of saying goodbye.

I called him, hoping he'd agree to celebrate a day early.

When he picked up, I spoke softly, "Bobby... I'll be busy in three days. Would it be okay if I celebrated your birthday with you early?"

There was no response on the other end. My heart jumped to my throat.

"Bobby?"

I called out again, unsure. But it wasn't his voice that came back—it was Audrey's.

"Bella, who celebrates a birthday early? There's only one birthday a year. You can't spare time even for that? If you're too busy, I'll keep him company."

Before I could say anything, she hung up.

I clenched my phone in frustration. Maybe she was just being petty. Maybe Bobby hadn't even heard the call.

I tried to brush it off and focus on what I could still do.

I went to Raatz Mall and browsed the men's section, picking out a birthday gift for him.

Just as I stepped out, arms full of shopping bags, I ran into Audrey—arm in arm with Bobby.

"Bobby," she said sweetly, "I told you. Bella wouldn't apologize to me. She just snapped at me yesterday, and now here she is, pretending nothing happened, out buying gifts for some guy."

Bobby's brows furrowed as he saw the bags full of men's items.

"No, Bobby, these are—" I began to explain, but he cut me off before I could finish.

"Bella, didn't I tell you yesterday to apologize to Audrey? And this is what you're doing instead?"

I bit down hard on my lip, my fingernails digging into my palm.

"I just wanted to get your birthday gift in advance."

He gave a cold laugh at that.

"All these years, haven't I taught you to be kind to Aundrey? If you can't bring yourself to apologize, then don't bother showing up to my birthday party at all."