In Between

Amelia

I didn’t even have time to cry my eyes out or reflect on what had happened that evening when I got a call from the hospital.

“Miss Amelia, your father has become really unstable. With the way things are going, we need to prepare for the worst.”

“No, you can’t do this to me!” I screamed, startling half the staff around me. “You promised to help him as long as we paid the bills, and we’ve been doing exactly that!”

“I’m sorry, Miss Amelia, but no payment was made this week for his dialysis, and because of that, there’s nothing more we can do,” the doctor said before walking away.

I was left standing there, tears streaming down my cheeks, my body trembling. Who would have thought my stepmother didn't paid the bills, even after all the money we managed to gather? How could she do this? She promised she had changed after doing it the last time.

The worst part was, I had no money left for my father’s dialysis. No one to turn to. When I should have been saving, I wasted everything on shopping, trying to throw a stupid surprise party for that cheater.

I rubbed the tip of my runny nose and wiped my eyes with my arm before entering the room. Once I reached my unconscious father, I held his warm hands, and before I knew it, tears started falling again.

“I’m really sorry, Dad, that I couldn’t protect you, but I promise I’ll save you,” I whispered shakily. “It’s not time to meet Mom yet. I won’t let you go.”

The sound of the door opening made me turn around. My stepmother and Stella walked inside. Stella’s head was held high, her face showing no trace of remorse for what she had done just hours ago.

“What are you two doing here?!” I shouted, rushing toward them, my eyes burning. “You have no right to be here! You didn’t pay the hospital bills this week, and you, Stella…” My voice broke as fresh, hot tears spilled down my cheeks. “How could you do that to me? I thought we were best sisters.”

“We aren’t here for this, Amelia,” my stepmother snapped, glancing over at my father.

I scoffed, completely unsurprised. “Then what are you doing here?”

"Mr. Hawkins, my daughter's husband-to-be, got into an accident two nights ago which fortunately didn't claim his life. However, the news reaching me tonight says... he lost his eyes."

"So, what do you expect me to do with this information?" I muttered, confused. "Take out my eyes in his place?"

“That would actually be a good idea, don’t you think so?” my stepmother said with a smile.

“I can’t marry a blind man, Amelia,” Stella cut in before her mother could go any further. “I’d rather die than end up with someone who has a disability, no matter how rich or handsome he is. Besides, I’m in love with someone else.”

I clenched my jaw and glared at her. It was obviously Fred. How dare she utter those words carelessly to my face?

“You should understand where we’re coming from, Amelia,” my stepmother said, her tone softening.

“I don’t,” I shook my head. “And I don’t care. Now leave this room before I call security.”

“Isn’t your father dying?” Stella asked, her eyes narrowing with fake sympathy. “If you really want to keep him alive, you’ll listen to what my mother has to say.”

My eyes flicked between the two of them. “What do you want from me?” I demanded.

“I heard about what happened with Alex. Not like you two were ever suitable anyway,” my stepmother said, brushing past my glare. “What I’m saying is, take Stella’s place. Since she refuses to marry him because of his disability.”

“Why should I do that? Didn’t the family already agree to Stella?” I asked sharply.

“They just asked for my daughter. They don’t know which one I’m marrying off,” she explained.

I shook my head and turned away. “No, I’m not interested.”

But my stepmother grabbed my chin, her long manicured nails digging into my skin, making me whimper in pain.

“You don’t have a choice, Amelia,” she growled, glaring at me. “If you think you can do as you please, then watch your father die.”

I looked to Stella, hoping for something. Anything. but she didn’t even flinch. It was like she didn’t care.

“You need the money even more than we do, don’t you?” she said with a shrug.

“So now I’m marrying for money?” I asked, my voice thick with disgust.

“We don’t have a choice, Amelia!” my stepmother snapped. “Don’t act like you won’t benefit from this just as much as we will.”

“Let me go!” I shouted, trying to pry her hand off my face.

“Is that a yes?” she asked, tilting her head. “Just imagine the amount of money you’d get to help your father.”

“I'm not—”

Before I could finish, the monitor beside my father’s bed started beeping rapidly.

“Dad,” I breathed, panic rising in my throat, and I ran out to call the doctor.