Taking the Blame

My parents’ adoptive daughter took three kids hiking with her, and they ended up dead. They wanted me to take the blame for her.

My father forced me to kneel before the families of the victims and crushed my calf with his hiking pole. “These were the legs she used to take your kids hiking. I’ll make sure she never gets to hike again.”

My mother legally disowned me. “Jenny will be breaking hiking records one day. I won’t let anyone bring up her shameful sister when that happens! She’s sacrificed so much for you all these years, and it’s time you paid her back.”

My boyfriend promised me, “Jenny has nothing. She would not survive if she had to endure all this, but at least you have me. I’ll be here for you no matter what happens. They’re just angry, but they won’t send you to jail. You can come home once everything settles down.”

To defend the reputation of my adoptive sister, he and my parents worked together to falsify evidence and send me to jail.

“It’s to protect you,” they promised, “so the families don’t take revenge on you.”

They did not know I had already given up on them.

The lights flashed in my eyes. I stared at the empty door and calmly walked toward a home that was not truly mine.

The video of Jenny White breaking the hiking record played on the mall's big screen. In the video, my parents and Jared stood excitedly, cheering for her.

None of them seemed to remember that I would be released today.

After almost three hours of walking, I finally saw Jared.

He rushed over. Upon seeing my limp, he went to support my arm.

“Charlie! What happened to your leg? Did they do something to you inside?”

The concern in his tone and expression felt ironic.

“Weren’t you the one who sent me to jail before my leg healed to protect Jenny’s reputation?”

My legs never got the treatment they needed. I would never be able to hike again.

Jared avoided my gaze awkwardly. “We only did that because we were worried the victim’s family would take revenge on you. I don’t mind that you have a limp. I’ll take care of you.”

Not wanting to waste my energy on him, I opened the car door, only to see Jenny sitting inside.

“What is she doing here?”

Jared quickly closed the door. “Our friends wanted to go celebrate and congratulate Jenny for her award. I think you'd better not go.”

“Not go? The murderer herself will be there, so why can’t I join?”

Jared glanced at Jenny nervously. After he was sure she had not heard what I said, he breathed a sigh of relief.

Then, he turned to reprimand me. “Jenny’s very affected by what happened. Why do you have to bring it up? Do you want her to feel worse?

“Call a taxi to take you home. We wasted a lot of time looking for you, and Jenny and I still have a celebration to attend.”

With that, Jared left quickly, forgetting that I did not have even a single cent on me.

It took another hour of walking before I got home, and my feet were starting to cramp.

Before I opened the door, I heard someone talking on the other side.