Chapter 16 - The Unfinished Page
Natalie pulled a glossy brochure out of her tote bag and slid it across the small marble table toward me.
I looked down. It was an information packet for an international architectural restoration fellowship based in Seattle—a prestigious, highly competitive six-month program that involved traveling the Pacific Northwest, restoring historic buildings, and leading a team of talented designers. It was the exact kind of career-defining opportunity I had dreamed of applying for years ago, but had always talked myself out of because my mother insisted I needed to stay close to home "in case Paige needed help with anything."
"Applications close next Friday," Natalie said softly, her gaze steady and encouraging. "And your shoulder is healed enough for travel. I already checked with Dr. Harris. He gave you the green light."
I stared at the glossy brochure, tracing my fingers over the bold title printed across the top. A familiar flutter of nervous excitement—not fear, but pure, unadulterated anticipation—stirred deep in my chest.
For thirty years, my entire life had been written by other people. My parents drafted the rules, Paige cast the roles, and I was expected to quietly play the background character who absorbed the damage so everyone else could shine. But the moment I refused to fix what Paige had broken, the script had burned away to ash.
The page was entirely blank now. And for the first time in my life, I was holding the pen.
I opened my mouth to speak, a slow, radiant smile spreading across my face, ready to tell Natalie that I was going to fill out the application right this second—
*Bzzzz.*
My phone buzzed loudly against the marble tabletop, interrupting the quiet afternoon air.
I glanced down at the screen. The caller ID didn't show a name, just an unknown, private number from a local area code. But right beneath it, a text message preview popped up from an unfamiliar mobile number that made the blood instantly freeze in my veins.
*“Clara. You need to come home immediately. It’s about Paige. She’s... she’s done something unthinkable, and you're the only one who can fix it.”*
My breath hitched in my throat, the quiet peace of the morning shattering instantly around me.
May you like
Natalie noticed the sudden change in my posture, her smile fading as she reached across the table and placed her hand firmly over mine. "Who is it?" she asked, her voice dropping into a protective, steady whisper.
I stared at the glowing screen, the words burning themselves into my retinas, realizing with a chilling jolt that the past wasn't quite done trying to pull me under.
