A life apart
EPISODE 9
Written by Rukevwe merry
After the court hearing, Annabel’s resentment simmered. She confronted Mr. Johnson, demanding answers, but he fled to avoid her. At home, Annabel’s behavior toward Mirabel shifted.
One day, Mirabel noticed the change and approached Annabel. “Annabel, what’s wrong? You’ve been different toward me lately,” Mirabel asked gently. Annabel’s expression turned frank. “Mirabel, I’m tired of pretending. I resent you for taking Father’s love away from me. You should go back to where you came from. Let me enjoy Father’s love alone .
Mirabel’s voice remained calm. “Our father’s love is enough for both of us. You don’t have to feel that way, Annabel. We can share our father’s love and our mother’s love. I’m not taking it away from you.”
Annabel’s face twisted in anger. “Just get out of my room! I’m not ready to share my father with you. You’re always taking everything from me. Leave me alone!”
Mirabel’s eyes welled up with tears as she turned to leave. “I thought we were sisters, Annabel. I thought we shared everything.”
Mirabel left Annabel’s room, tears streaming down her face. She met her mom, Mrs. Aaron, in the hallway.
“Mirabel, why are you crying?” Mrs. Aaron asked.
“Annabel says I’m taking Father’s love away from her. She wants him all to herself,” Mirabel sniffled.
Mrs. Aaron hugged Mirabel. “Your father loves you just as much as Annabel. There’s enough love for everyone.”
But Mirabel pulled away, her eyes welling up again. “I don’t want to talk to Annabel. She doesn’t care about me.”
Mrs. Aaron’s voice remained gentle. “We’ll get through this together.”
Mirabel rushed to her room, slamming the door shut.
Mrs. Aaron told Mr. Aaron about Mirabel’s tears and Annabel’s harsh words. Together, they went to Annabel’s room to reassure her.
“Annabel, sweetie, we love you just as much as Mirabel,” Mrs. Aaron said.
“But you love Mirabel more!” Annabel protested.
Mr. Aaron’s voice was firm. “That’s not true, Annabel. We love you both equally.”
Annabel’s face twisted in anger. “If you truly love me, send Mirabel away!”
Mr. Aaron’s expression turned stern. “Absolutely not, Annabel. Mirabel is your sister, and she deserves our love and respect.”
Annabel’s anger boiled over. She stormed out of the room, grabbing her car keys.
“I’ll show you!” Annabel shouted, speeding out of the driveway.
Mirabel, still hurting from Annabel’s earlier words, witnessed the scene. Feeling rejected and unloved, she made a split-second decision.
She grabbed her own car keys and drove away, tears streaming down her face.
Annabel sped away from the family house, anger and frustration fueling her escape. Her tires screeched as she took the corner, leaving a cloud of dust behind.
Meanwhile, Mirabel drove down the same road, tears streaming down her face. She had been driving for hours, trying to escape the pain of Annabel’s words.
As she rounded the curve, Mirabel’s heart skipped a beat. A cloud of smoke and flames billowed ahead.
She slammed on the brakes, parking her car on the slide. Her eyes widened as she recognized the burning car.
“Annabel!” Mirabel gasped.
She leapt from her car, sprinting toward the inferno.
People stood nearby, shouting warnings.
“Don’t go! Don’t go! You’ll d!e!”
“You can’t save her! It’s too late!”
“Stay back! The car’s going to explode!”
But Mirabel didn’t listen. She charged forward, her sole focus on saving Annabel.
“Let me go! That’s my sister!” Mirabel shouted, pushing through the crowd.
A bystander grabbed her arm. “You can’t save her! It’s suic!dal!”
Mirabel shook him off. “I won’t leave her!”
The heat intensified, flames licking at her skin. Mirabel covered her face with her shirt and pushed through.
“Annabel! Hold on!” Mirabel screamed.
She reached the car and saw Annabel trapped inside, unconscious.
With superhuman strength, Mirabel ripped open the door and pulled Annabel out.
The flames roared around them, and Mirabel felt her skin burning.
But she didn’t care.
She dragged Annabel away from the car, the heat and smoke suffocating.
Just as they stumbled to safety, the car exploded behind them.
Mirabel shielded Annabel’s body with her own.
When the flames died down, paramedics rushed to treat Annabel’s injuries.
Mirabel collapsed beside her sister, exhausted and burned.
Tbc
