I'd braced myself for it. Told myself I already knew. But watching her hands move, watching the screen flash—something still cracked open in my chest that I couldn't quite swallow back down.

Huh. My dear sister. My precious childhood sweetheart.

I got back to the dorm at ten-thirty.

The second I walked in, my roommates were talking about Geoffrey.

I leaned over for a look. It was a photo.

Three hands raising cans of Coke in a toast.

Caption: *Fed and taken care of by the big sisters~*

I recognized Clementine's hand and Clara's hand immediately.

When did they get that close? I'd had no idea.

I didn't feel much of anything anymore.

I made up my mind on the spot: I wouldn't go home until the contest was over. If they couldn't even find me, they'd have nothing left to feed Geoffrey.

I could finally write in peace.

At last, just before the deadline, I finished the novel.

All I had to do now was submit the file.

I exhaled, long and slow—and Geoffrey's social media account updated.

*My contest entry is officially submitted! Thanks, everyone, for the support these past few weeks.*

Attached was a screenshot of the document. Most of it was blurred out.

But I recognized the first few lines.