"I'll pay you back tomorrow," I said to my sister Laura's face. Her eyes were red from crying. Her husband of ten years had just left her after she heard that he had been cheating. Everyone knew that Matthew couldn’t keep it in his pants or his wallet. Long-legged women of the night were his favorite delights.

"I promise."

I knew better than to make promises I couldn't keep. I had done it countless times before. It was something that pissed my parents off when I did it. They scream at me, call me a user, and a liar, and say that they would someday disown me if I continued to abuse their trust. But I didn't care. I would do it anyway.

It was a game I played to get what I want.

Putting on my pity face each time I would ask for money from them, worked like a charm.

I became a master at it. But lately, I was beginning to feel like I was going too far. My grandmother was in town and had just come into some big money by way of a lawsuit she won. She was awarded over a quarter of a million dollars for injuries she sustained due to a drunk driver hitting her car. She believed me when I told her I dreamt of owning my own home so that I would no longer have to bum rent motel rooms for weeks at a time.

Being her favorite grandchild had its perks. By the end of her stay, she used all of her money to purchase me a home just down the road from my parents. She expects me to pay her monthly installments but she should know by now that I wouldn't be able to do it. It’s been a few months now and she keeps calling me asking for her payments. I blocked her number.

Maybe I am a user. Or maybe I deserve what is owed to me. Everyone around me has always thought that they were so much better than me. My sister, the worst of them all. Looking down her nose at me and referring to me as the family fuck up. So what if I like to spend my money on getting high and the lottery? It was my business.

So Laura and the rest of them can all go to hell for judging me.

Feeling like they are better than me.

But they aren't.

***

Last week the supervisor at my new job accused me of stealing from the other employees and fired me. During a drunken rant at my sister’s I let it slip and what did my sweet ole sister say?

“Why are you so stupid, Nina?” Her eyes glazed with judgment. “You are always getting fired and then you keep asking us all for help.”

I smiled slyly as I watched my sister’s Laura’s contort in anger. I knew that the anger was directed at me. "I don't need your fucking help, Laura," I spat out as I kicked my sister's puppy out of the way. The little shit always followed me around and nipping at my heels.

“Don’t kick Blinky you bitch!” I couldn’t help but sneer as I noticed her wedding ring glistening in the low light. Matthew, her husband was a successful broker and everyone knew he spent a fortune to keep my sister happy. What sat on her prissy finger was 5.50 Carats with 3 Pear stones in 14K White Gold. I knew because I helped him pick it out for her.

I looked over at her sister with a sly grin, revealing the big secret I had been keeping for years. "I've been sleeping with Matt since he bought you that ring." I gestured to the diamond on Laura's finger. "He's been lending me money because I told him I’d tell you everything if he didn’t help me. But I don't need his help anymore; I can care for myself."

The hurt in Laura's eyes was unmistakable as she heard my words. She ran to me, her face full of fury, ready to attack. We fought bitterly, our nails scratching and fists flying. It was a bloody mess, and in the end both of us were injured. I felt triumphant as I walked away from her, knowing that I had won.

So, while she slept I crept in through the patio door that she always forgot to lock and stole her wedding ring. I pawned it the next town over. Of course, I got a cool $2500 for it too!

A beauty like that would keep my pockets lined for at least a week.

***

Mom says I have always been jealous of my sister. She was always the pretty one who got all the attention from boys. That left me constantly feeling like the one living in her shadow.

I just needed a tremendous high and saw the opportunity to take my sister's most prized possessions - her wedding ring and her man - I didn't think twice about it.

But now, I realized that maybe I had gone too far this time. I had crossed the line, and I knew it.

In the blink of an eye, I became a liar, a homewrecker, and a thief to fuel my needs.

***

You can say I was caught off guard during the intervention.

My parents, sister, and best friend Laura greeted me with stern looks on their faces. I knew something was up.

"Nina, we need to talk to you about something," my father said, his voice serious.

"What is it?" I asked, already knowing what they were going to say.

"We're worried about you, sweetie," my mother said, tears welling in her eyes. "You've been lying to and stealing from us. And now we learn that you have been sleeping with your sister’s husband. We just don't know what to do with you anymore."

"What are you talking about?" I asked, feigning innocence.

"Your sister's wedding ring and always borrowing money that we all know you cannot pay back," my mother was choking back tears.

"We have been talking between us, and we feel that we have coddled you way too much," my sister was consoling my mom's growing sobs. "From this day forward, you are disowned by this family and will have to find your own way."

Sweat dripped down my forehead, hitting the tip of my tongue as I opened my mouth to state my case. “That is some bullshit, and you all know it.” Creeks and slams from the door turned my anger into sobs. As I walked to the Uber waiting outside, I didn’t bother looking back.

***

It had been six months since my family turned their backs on me, evicting me from the home they got for me and forcing me to spend my days lying underneath a bridge. Losing access to friends and family left me penniless, but it was nothing compared to what happened next. My sister Laura, who had always been very privileged, filed for divorce from Matthew after learning that I had been sleeping with him and spending his money. This left Matthew broke, losing millions in the divorce settlement and all of his assets.

I felt bad for Matthew, not my privileged sister Laura.

Recently, I noticed this homeless man always staring in my direction, making me a bit nervous. He's been following me for days, and I can tell he's up to no good. He always lurks in the shadows, and I'm worried he might try to rob or hurt me. It's horrifying to be alone in this city, especially when someone like him lurks around. I just hope he leaves me alone so I can return to my everyday life.

Angel, an elderly homeless woman gave me one of her many blankets so I could sleep that night. As the wind hit my face, and I began to fall into a deep sleep I felt a piercing on my side. Turning over, I helplessly watched as the homeless man continuously plunged his knife into my side.

I tried to scream, but nothing came out. I watched in terror as the man's face came closer and closer to mine. And then I saw it. Recognition flashed through his eyes and I knew that it was Matthew my sister's ex-husband. The violence that must have ensued during their break-up was written all over his face.

I felt a sudden warmth spreading through my body.

"I am vengeance," he spat. His eyes were black with rage and he looked like he wanted to kill me. “You will suffer for what you have done." He plunged the blade into my side, again and again, the fury in his eyes fueling his assault. I cried out in pain, the warmth spreading through my body, growing more intense with each thrust.

Finally, I slumped over, the darkness claiming me.

NM