Ste had been nning to catch some shut-eye after lunch, but her phone had other ideas. There had been one call after another from the studio. Switching her phone to silent during the day felt like a taboo she couldn''tmit to.


    But after hanging up from Tabitha''s call, an unknown number shed on her screen - it was Cloudia, borrowing a phone to reach out.


    Over the phone, Cloudia''s voice came in sobs and gasps, "Ste, for heaven''s sake, I''m begging you, could you please get Tegan and Finley to the hospital?" Ste was silent.


    "It''s all my fault, all of it. Don''t hold it against your sister. I just wanted to teach you right from wrong, but you were always so stubborn, and I, I just..."


    Just what? Cloudia was too frantic to find the right words to continue.


    Ste uttered, "I''m stubborn?"


    "Ste, I..."


    Cloudia hesitated, unable to continue with the harsh truths, especially now that she was desperate for Tegan and Finley''s support.


    It always came back to Urs, and Cloudia was willing to swallow her pride for her sake.


    Ste cut in, "Mrs. Larkin, after being found and hospitalized for two months, I barely spent a month with the Larkin family upon my return. In that month, you and Mr. Larkin were almost always out, busy with your socials. So, how exactly did youe to know about my so-called bad temper and stubbornness?"


    Her words were sharp, each one hitting its mark.


    Cloudia was speechless.


    Indeed, how could she have known?


    Ste continued, "Do you remember what started our first conflict?"


    "What indeed?"


    "It was after Urs had a nasty fall and hurt her wrist. Do you remember what she told you?"


    Cloudia was silent.


    Ste went on, "She said, ''It''s got nothing to do with Star. Don''t me her!'' And then you unleashed a torrent of usations on me."


    Even after all these years, Cloudia remembered the incident vividly as Ste talked about the details. But hearing Ste recount it, she felt something was amiss.


    And then, a suffocating realization...


    Ste pressed on, "Did you see me push her?"


    Cloudia''s breath hitched. No, she hadn''t.


    Ste''s tone was unyielding, colder now, "You never saw it happen. You couldn''t be sure her injury was because of me. So why assume?"


    Why indeed? Cloudia found herself


    silently questioning her own judgments. She had never


    witnessed Ste push Urs, nor


    could she be certain Ste R


    me. But for some


    had


    jumped to that cont


    "How many times after that did Urs say, ''It''s not Star''s fault. It''s my fault''? How many times?" Cloudia''s breathing quickened. Ste added, "You might not remember the exact count, but just remember what you did to me every time after she said those words." The words was said lightly, yet itnded heavily on Cloudia''s conscience.


    What had she done? The details might be blurry, but the usations and relentless me she directed at Ste were crystal clear.


    "Can we not talk about it right now?


    ЭЛ


    Ste, she''s in so much pain. You didn''t see hering out of the ER, throwing up uncontrobly, unable to even sip water."