SPACEDESKTOP

The sound of crackling fire drew my attention to the living room. I dropped my bag on the floor and stood frozen in the doorway, watching Kelly, who was perched by the roaring fireplace, staring into the flames, fixated.

“Kelly,” I asked cautiously, “why’s the fireplace on?”

She didn’t even turn to look at me. Instead, she smiled a cold, sharp smirk that made my stomach twist. “Oh, don’t worry, dear. I just thought you should see your college dreams go up in flames.”

My breath caught in my throat. “What?” I croaked as I moved closer.

She gestured lazily at the fire, where I could see the remains of what looked like a large envelope and crisp papers reduced to ash.

“Your acceptance letter came,” she said casually, “but you don’t need it. You’ll be working at my café this summer and for the foreseeable future to thank me for being such a great stepmother. College isn’t in the cards for someone like you.”

For a moment, I couldn’t breathe, and the room blurred as tears welled up in my eyes.