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The next day was Vera's birthday party.
Early that morning, Mom pushed my bedroom door open and started digging through my closet.
She pulled out the princess dress at the very back, still zipped inside its garment bag.
It was a gift from my boyfriend, Simon Dickerson.
I'd never had the heart to wear it.
"The dress I got for Vera is the wrong size. I'll borrow this one to tide us over."
She didn't wait for me to answer. She just turned and walked out with it.
I got up and got dressed.
Mom and Dad flanked Vera on either side, and I trailed behind.
Simon's car was parked downstairs.
That surprised me.
Vera hurried up to it.
"Simon! I only mentioned it in passing yesterday. I didn't think you'd actually come to pick me up!"
Simon smiled.
"You treated me to barbecue yesterday. Of course I'd come get you."
My steps stalled.
"Didn't you say you were working late at the office yesterday?"
Yesterday, the moment I woke up in the hospital, the first thing I did was call Simon.
He didn't pick up. He texted back: "Working late. Busy."
Simon came around Vera and stopped in front of me.
"I was having dinner with Vera at the time. I couldn't just leave her there on her own to go find you, and I'm not a doctor anyway, so showing up wouldn't have helped."
"I said I was working late because I didn't want you overthinking it. I wasn't trying to lie to you."
"Right, right."
Vera cut in.
"Angie, I'll keep an eye on Simon for you, so don't read too much into it."
"Got it."
My hand had just touched the passenger door when Simon caught me by the wrist.
"Angela, you ride in back with Mom and Dad. Vera's in a dress, it's a hassle for her to squeeze into the back."
It was an order, not a suggestion.
I gave him a long look and walked to the back seat.
Simon opened the passenger door and put his hand over the top of Vera's head as she got in.
"Vera, that dress really suits you."
I sat in the back, a heaviness pressing on my chest.
Back when I bought this dress, I was too thin and frail to fill it out, and it hung on me all wrong.
But Simon had swiped his card and paid for it anyway, telling me not to worry, that he'd feed me up nice and healthy, and one day I'd fit into it.
And now he thought the dress suited Vera.
We reached the restaurant and went into the private room.
Vera settled in beside Simon as if it were the natural thing to do, and I took whatever empty seat was left.
Simon glanced at me and said nothing.
Not long after, my uncle's family and my aunt's family arrived too.
Amid the small talk, the dishes came out one by one.
The last one was a plate of steamed crab, a complimentary dish from the restaurant, counted out one per person.
The server was portioning out the crab for everyone.
When it came to me, Mom cleared her throat.
"You don't need to give her any. She can't eat meat. Give hers to her."
She pointed at Vera beside her.
The server said yes and reached to lift the crab off my plate.
"Mom."
I put my hand down over the crab.
"I can eat meat. The doctor said I've never been allergic to meat. I already told you that yesterday."
My aunt frowned.
"Didn't your mom say you were sickly at six, and that's what made you allergic to meat?"
"When I was six was when Vera started on solid food."
My uncle set down his chopsticks.
"What does Vera have to do with your allergy?"
"Back then Dad's business hadn't taken off yet. We were poor. There was only enough meat for one child."
Mom slammed both hands on the table.
"Angela! What kind of nonsense are you spouting!"
Dad hurled the wine glass in his hand at me. Blood ran down my forehead and blurred my vision.
"You just had to make a scene at your sister's birthday party?"
My aunt-in-law stepped in.
"Come on now, what's past is past. It's a good thing Angie can eat meat now. Meat's good for you."
The other relatives chimed in one after another, urging peace.
Vera suddenly stood up and ran out, eyes red.
Simon shot me a disapproving glare, then rushed out after her.
The birthday party broke up in bad blood.
I took a cab to the hospital myself to have the cut on my forehead treated.
It wasn't that they hadn't seen the wound.
They just didn't care.
That night I didn't go home. I checked into a hotel near the office.
Early the next morning I went in to handle my transfer paperwork.
By the time I finished, it was already noon.
Simon sent me a text.
【Mom, Dad, and Vera are all waiting for you at home. They said they want to apologize to you.】
