The Way We Once Were

I set the half-empty bowl aside and said curtly, "I don't have any appetite. This is the best I can do. Are you happy now?"

This displeased Zach. "Can't you finish the whole thing? You're such a picky eater. Thank goodness Thalia isn't like this."

I could not resist a scoff. "Have you forgotten that I'm allergic to chicken?"

I could tell Zach was already gearing up to scold me, but he stopped dead in his tracks as realization struck him. "No… Of course I didn't forget! It was a mistake. I'll call a doctor right now. I'll go downstairs and buy you something else!"

I shook my head. "Never mind."

I could feel my face tingling, and a red rash was beginning to develop over my bare arms. Zach saw this too and said with a frown, "How come you didn't mention it? Why can't you be more careful? Give me a few minutes. I'll go find a doctor right now. I'll be back in a jiffy."

All of a sudden, his phone rang, and when he picked up, Thalia's whiny voice rang out, "Zach… My period has come, and my tummy hurts!"

This sent Zach flying into a panic. Alarmed, he replied, "Don't be scared, darling. I'll come home right now and give you a massage to make it better. Stop crying, okay? I'll be home before you know it."

He hung up hastily and looked at me sheepishly. "Sorry, Sydney. Thalia's period cramps are always the worst. She needs someone to take care of her. I need to massage her and make her some soup so that she can feel better. I'm sure you understand, don't you?"

Of course I understood; he used to dote on me in the exact same way. I replied icily, "Go on then."

Zach shot me a guilty look. "Sydney, you should call a doctor to check on you. Thalia really needs my company. It's just an allergic reaction, and I'm sure you'll be fine. It's not like you can die from an allergy, right?"

I nodded stiffly. "I understand, Zach."

Zach flinched upon hearing this. I could see a brief expression of sadness flash across his face as he said gloomily, "You never used to say my name like that. Never mind. I know you're just still angry at me. You'll come around sooner or later."

After Zach left, I summoned a doctor, and while I waited, I decided to scroll on my phone.

The first thing that popped up on my screen was a status update from Thalia Lewis, Zach's girlfriend.

[I'm the luckiest girl in the world! I had an intense craving for chicken soup last night, and Zach spent hours trying to perfect it for me! It's the best thing I've ever had!]

This was the caption for a photo of a bowl of soup, garnished and seasoned to perfection. The next photo showed a massive pot of less-than-appealing chicken soup, clearly belonging to Zach's failed attempts.

Oddly enough, the failed ones looked exactly like the bowl of soup Zach had brought me earlier.

Either way, this was none of my business. Not anymore.

The day I got discharged from the hospital, I returned home only to catch Zach and Thalia making out on my living room couch. They jumped when they heard me opening the door.

Zach seemed embarrassed to be caught. He explained hastily, "Sorry, Sydney. I didn't mean to forget that you were getting discharged today. Thalia got into an argument with her roommate, and I was just comforting her. She's my girlfriend after all, whereas you're my sister.

"Partners should always come first, don't you agree, Sydney? Surely you can understand?

"This also reminds me… You don't mind Thalia living here for a while, do you? She's my girlfriend, after all."

There did not seem to be any room for dispute at all. I glanced at him and shook my head. "It's fine."

It was fine, truly. Once Connor returned, I would sell the house and buy a new one. It did not concern me where Zach and Thalia would be living, since this was my house, after all.

I entered my room, but to my horror, I realized that everything, down to the wallpaper and the furniture, had been changed. My previous bare walls were now painted a sickening shade of pink, and one glance around the room showed me that my belongings had been replaced by another woman's—Thalia's, of course.

Zach explained, "Thalia is very particular about her surroundings. Your bed is more comfortable, and the lighting in your room is better, so I let her have this room instead.

"Thalia didn't like the way your room looked, so I let her change the layout and refurnish it as she liked. After all, she and I will be getting married in the future, and she's going to end up moving in anyway. You can have my room instead, Sydney."

Thalia did not like the idea of this. She pouted and whimpered, "Zach, have you forgotten that Sydney fancies you? What will she think of that?"