When Love Is Shattered

Edgar headed out after handing me the cake.

He glanced back at me, my face pale. "Cecilia, you need to think about what you're doing. You can't just throw tantrums all the time."

He had a point. I really should think about whether I'd been valuing Edgar and Silas too much over those years.

…

The trip home from the hospital felt way longer than usual. It felt like Silas and Edgar had always been there for me, ever since I could remember.

They were always right with me no matter where I went. I'd never been alone in a hospital for seven days, let alone had to make the trip back home by myself.

When I got home and opened the door, all I felt was a cold emptiness, and my heart sank again. Since I left home at 18 years old and moved into this villa, their presence was everywhere I turned.

I loved keeping fish and had a huge, beautiful aquarium. I named each of the fish. Silas and Edgar would always tease me for being childish, but they'd still go everywhere to get me the fish I wanted.

Whenever I wasn't home, they'd come over to look after them for me. But now, dozens of them were floating belly-up, lifeless on the water.

I stood there in a daze, staring at the dead fish in the aquarium as a sharp pain kept stabbing at my heart.

It had been a whole 15 years.

I met Edgar and Silas the moment I walked through the elementary school gates. They told me I was as pretty as a doll and playfully declared they'd be my knights.

Everyone knew kids' promises didn't hold much weight, but they were with me for 15 years and treated me like a princess.

Whenever I was bullied at school, Silas, the school rebel, would fight with the bullies in the alley secretly. Even when he was battered and bruised, he'd yell, "Touch Cecilia again, and I'll crush your heads! I dare you to test me!"

I broke down in tears when I didn't get into the same university as them.

Edgar, the top student, turned down his spot at a prestigious university. He pulled me close and said, "You silly, we're not going anywhere without you. How could we leave you alone?"

I always thought they'd never leave me, but Lisette showed up six months ago and crushed that dream.

Her father was my driver. Six months ago, he had a stroke and died on the spot while picking me up from the campus.

Having lost her mother when she was young, Lisette couldn't take losing her father, too, and she fainted in tears at the funeral.

I felt for her, so I gave her a large sum of money and offered her a place to stay with me. I brought her everywhere, took care of all her expenses, and had her join me when I hung out with Edgar and Silas.

I even warned Edgar and Silas not to mess with Lisette.

I saw Lisette as someone fragile and delicate, not knowing she was actually a parasite. She latched onto me, slowly draining everything I had.

I looked around, wanting to get rid of Lisette's stuff, only to find that everything that used to be mine was already gone.

Whether it was the wall covering or the doormat, everything had been replaced with styles I couldn't stand. It felt like I was the one who didn't belong here.

I gave a bitter laugh, realizing it was time to get rid of the parasite.

…

It was well into the night when I heard voices from outside the door.

"I'm so jealous of Cecilia. She's got you guys, but I have nothing…" Lisette said, her voice cracking with tears.

Silas blurted out, "Lise, don't say stuff like that! We only pamper her because we've known her for years. You would've been the one if we'd met you earlier! You're sweet and kind, but her? All she does is throw fits like a spoiled brat! She's no match for you!"

After a brief silence, Edgar said, "Lise, she's nothing like you."