I stood in the quiet of my father’s studio, fingers trailing over the worn edges of his workbench, feeling the grain of the wood he had sanded down with care. This studio was all that was left of him now, tucked away in a forgotten corner of New York. The last real piece of him, right here, surrounded by the faint scent of paint and sawdust that still lingered. It was comforting, grounding—and somehow, unbearable all at once.

Today was supposed to be about honoring him, marking his absence on the anniversary of the day he died. But that was too simple, wasn’t it? Instead, Savvy’s antics had stolen any chance I had for a quiet moment alone with my memories.

I’d already decided to let go of the studio. As much as it hurt, I knew that staying here, trying to keep it as he left it, was only going to hold me back. My father’s work deserved more than that. But leaving it behind felt too final, like cutting the last string to him, even though I’d been trying to loosen that knot for years.

The buzzing of my phone interrupted my thoughts, the screen lighting up with a message from Savvy: “Could you bring me some clean clothes? It’s the least you could do.”

I felt my chest tighten, anger welling up as I stared at her words. After everything she’d done—the scene she’d caused, the way she twisted the truth, the way she’d cast me as the villain in front of everyone—she had the nerve to ask me for a favor? My fingers hovered over the screen, itching to respond, to say something biting, something that would cut. But I swallowed back the words. There was no point.

No, I thought. I’m not bringing you anything, Savvy.

Minutes passed. I tried to settle myself, turning my gaze back to the studio, the bits and pieces he’d left behind, but the stillness didn’t last long. My phone lit up again, this time with a call from Nicolas. I considered ignoring it, but something in me—the part that couldn’t ignore him, no matter how much I wanted to—made me answer.

“Sabrina,” he said, without preamble, “could you please bring some clothes to the hospital for Savvy? She’s been asking for hours now.”

I let out a cold laugh, though the sound felt foreign even to me. “She already texted me,” I replied, my voice colder than I intended. “And I’m not bringing her anything.”

There was a beat of silence, long enough for his sigh to slip through. “Sabrina, don’t be like this,” he said eventually, his voice edged with irritation. “She’s at the hospital, and you can’t even bring her a change of clothes?”

I tightened my grip on the phone. “She’s got both of you there to look after her, doesn’t she? Why should she need anything from me?”

A tense silence stretched between us, neither of us willing to give in. Finally, I hung up, the familiar anger and hurt mixing in my chest like oil and water, making it hard to breathe. I wasn’t going to play along, not this time. If they couldn’t see the truth by now, then maybe they never would.

A knock sounded at the door not long after. I opened it to find Nicolas and Harvey standing outside, their faces serious, expressions unreadable. The sight of them—these two people who’d been with me through everything—only made my chest tighten more.

“Sabrina,” Harvey began, his voice calm, steady, but tinged with disappointment, “it would have taken you two minutes to bring her clothes. Was that really so difficult?”

Nicolas crossed his arms, his eyes hard. “She’s injured, and you’re refusing to help her?”

They exchanged glances, that silent communication they had always shared, the same one that had once included me. Now it felt like they were looking through me, like I was the outsider, the unreasonable one.

“Sabrina,” Harvey began, his tone measured, “it’s not like you to be this… inconsiderate.”

Inconsiderate. The word landed with a finality that left me feeling hollow. I glanced down, and my eyes caught on the bracelet around my wrist—the gift they’d given me on my eighteenth birthday. It had taken them weeks to find the right one, combing through countless stores in the city just to find something in my favorite style. At the time, they’d looked at me with such pride, sliding it onto my wrist as if it were a promise.

Their words cut deeper than I cared to admit, and I fought to keep my expression steady. My fingers drifted to the bracelet around my wrist. I could still remember the way they’d looked when they handed it to me, both of them so proud to have found something they thought suited me perfectly. They’d spent days searching the city for it, making sure it was exactly what I would love, a symbol of everything they believed I was.

But now, it felt like a pressure, a reminder of how much had changed since that day. The bracelet was the last thing connecting us, yet it felt foreign, almost mocking, as if it belonged to someone else entirely.

Without a word, I reached for the clasp, my fingers trembling slightly as I slipped it off and held it out in front of them. It dangled from my fingers, the small silver chain catching the light, as fragile as the bond we once shared.

“Sabrina… what are you doing?” Harvey asked, his tone softening, a flicker of surprise crossing his face.

I kept my gaze steady, though the effort made my throat tighten. “The style doesn’t suit me anymore,” I said, each word feeling heavier than the last.

A moment of silence passed between us, the pressure of my words sinking in. Nicolas’s expression shifted, his brows knitting together as he took a step forward, his hand half-raised as if he wanted to stop me.

“If that’s the problem,” he said carefully, “we can find you a new one. Something that… fits you better.”

But I shook my head, setting the bracelet down on the small table beside me, watching as it lay there, motionless, like a ghost of something I’d already lost. They both stared at it, their eyes darkening with something I couldn’t name, a realization that felt too little, too late.

“Sabrina,” Harvey murmured, his voice laced with hesitation, like he wasn’t sure what to say. I didn’t give him the chance to finish, didn’t wait for them to come up with some excuse, some reason that would justify everything they’d done.

“I don’t want it,” I said, keeping my voice steady even as a wave of finality washed over me. “Not anymore.”

They looked at me, both of them silent, their faces unreadable, caught off guard in a way I hadn’t seen in years. For once, they didn’t have anything to say, no words to fill the silence that had grown between us.

Nicolas reached out, but his hand fell short, hovering in the space between us, as though he didn’t know if he should touch me. Harvey shifted his weight, his gaze lingering on the bracelet, but he made no move to take it.

I turned away, stepping past them without another word. The house felt colder as I moved through it, each step echoing as if it were the last. I didn’t look back, didn’t wait to see if they’d pick up the bracelet, if they’d even understand what it meant. Maybe, in time, they would. Or maybe they wouldn’t.

Either way, it didn’t matter anymore. I walked out into the cool New York air, the door closing behind me with a quiet finality. I kept moving, feeling a strange lightness in my chest, as though I’d left something behind.

I woke up the next morning, finding the house too quiet. The faint morning light slipped through the blinds, casting long, delicate lines on the floorboards. The weight of yesterday lingered heavily, and I could still feel the ache of my parting words to Nicolas and Harvey, like echoes that wouldn’t stop.

I took a breath and tried to brush it off, reaching for a clean shirt when I heard voices downstairs. Nicolas and Harvey had let themselves in again, apparently. I headed down, wondering if they’d come to press me for another favor for Savvy. The minute I reached the bottom of the stairs, I caught sight of them in my room, looking through my things.

“Good morning,” I said, a slight edge in my voice, crossing my arms as I entered.

They turned, both glancing at me with guarded expressions. Harvey cleared his throat, gesturing toward the few things left on my dresser. “Sabrina, we noticed you didn’t give Savvy anything for her birthday yesterday. Thought these might be a good idea for her. She could use some cheering up.”

Nicolas picked up a small bottle of perfume I’d left on my vanity. “She’d like this, don’t you think?”

My jaw tightened as I watched them, but I didn’t say anything, just kept my gaze on them. They didn’t notice the look on my face as they casually pulled open a drawer, looking for anything else that might be “perfect” for Savvy. But as they reached my closet, they paused, confusion flickering across their faces. Harvey pulled open one door, then another, only to be met with empty hangers, untouched shelves, and a distinct absence of anything to take.

“Sabrina,” Nicolas started, his eyes narrowing as he scanned the closet. “Where is everything?”

Just as I opened my mouth to answer, Nicolas’s phone buzzed. He checked the screen, and his expression shifted immediately, brows drawing together as he glanced at Harvey. “It’s Savvy. She needs us at the hospital now.”

They didn’t wait for an answer from me. Harvey just nodded in my direction as they quickly left, my empty closet and their questions forgotten. The door clicked shut, and for a moment, I stood there in the quiet, letting the silence settle again.

I slipped out of the house, needing some fresh air, and made my way to my father’s studio one last time. It was practically empty, his tools neatly packed away, the scent of wood and metal still faint in the air. Mr. Caldwell, one of my father’s oldest friends, met me at the door.

“I’m sorry to hear you’re letting go of the studio, Sabrina,” he said quietly, a knowing smile in his eyes.

I nodded, trying to find the words. “It’s… it’s time. I need to let it go.”

He reached into his pocket, pulling out a small box. “Before you do, I wanted to give you something. Your father designed it years ago, one of his best pieces. He called it Hope Jade. Thought it might bring you some comfort.”

I opened the box, and there it was—a piece of jewelry unlike any I’d ever seen. A deep, green stone set in intricate gold, delicate and powerful all at once, something only my father could have created. My fingers trembled slightly as I held it, the weight of his craftsmanship grounding me.

“Thank you,” I murmured, the words barely a whisper. “I’ll keep it with me.”

Mr. Caldwell nodded, patting my shoulder before he turned to go. I stood in the stillness of the studio for a while longer, letting the memories wash over me, feeling the bittersweet ache of goodbye.

When I got home later that evening, the last box was waiting for me. Savvy had picked it up from the courier while she was being discharged from the hospital. She must have left it here earlier, and for once, she’d left without a scene.

The air in the apartment felt charged, heavy with the tension that had become all too familiar between Savvy and me. I’d barely had time to speak before she took it upon herself to open MY package to take a look at what was inside.

“What’s this?” she asked, practically bouncing on her feet.

I watched as she opened the box wider, revealing the glimmering piece of jewelry nestled inside, and watched as Savvy’s gaze zeroed in on it. The deep green stone, a perfect oval of jade, seemed to catch the light in just the right way, sparkling like a whisper of hope. I could feel a protective instinct rising within me, the need to keep it safe.

“It's called Hope Jade,” I replied, my voice softer than I intended. “It belonged to my father.”

Her fingers twitched with excitement as she leaned in closer. “Can I try it on?” she asked, a pleading look in her eyes.

I hesitated. “Savvy, I really don’t think that’s a good idea. It’s—”

“Please!” she interrupted, her voice almost whiny, the familiar stubbornness creeping in. “Just for a minute?”

I felt the tug-of-war between wanting to indulge her and the protective instinct that flared to life. “No, it’s not just a piece of jewelry. It’s special to me.”

But her persistence only grew stronger. “Come on, Sabrina. Just let me see how it looks! It can’t hurt anything.”

Before I could react, she reached for the box, and I instinctively pulled it back. “Savvy!” I exclaimed, trying to keep my grip on the box. “Stop!”

In the struggle, the box tipped, and the Hope Jade slipped through my fingers. I watched in slow motion as it hit the floor, the sound echoing in the silence like a gunshot. The clasp broke upon impact, and the jade rolled away from us, its shine dulled by the difference with the floor.

Savvy gasped, eyes wide, and the sudden stillness that followed felt suffocating.

“Why would you do that?” she cried, falling to her knees to pick up the broken pieces. “You’re so mean, Sabrina!”

“Me? You were the one trying to take it without asking!” I shot back, fury burning in my chest.

But it was too late. Harvey and Nicolas appeared almost immediately, concern etched across their faces as they rushed to Savvy’s side.

“What happened?” Harvey asked, glancing between us. “Sabrina, what did you do?”

“Nothing! I was just—”

Savvy cut me off, her voice quivering. “She broke it! She doesn’t care about me or my feelings!”

Nicolas knelt down next to Savvy, taking the jade in his hands as if it were something fragile and delicate. “Sabrina,” he said, a disappointed edge creeping into his tone, “this was an inexpensive piece of jewelry. You didn’t need to be so harsh.”

“Not just a piece!” I yelled, the anger bubbling over. “Nor do I care if it is inexpensive jewelry. It was meant to be worn on my wedding day!”

“Exactly, your groom can always get you another one.” Harvey interjected, his brow furrowing in concern for Savvy.

I caught the use of your groom rather than me and Nicolas. I swallowed at that.

“As the elder cousin, you should know better. Just let it go.” Harvey added.

Savvy sniffed, her voice rising as she continued to play the victim. “I can’t believe you would hurt me over something so trivial! You’re just mean, Sabrina! Even to Lovely, my friend!”

That hit me like a punch to the gut. Lovely was one of Savvy’s friends, but I didn’t even know her well enough to have an opinion.

“Savvy,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady, “this isn’t about that—”

“Just apologize,” Nicolas demanded, cutting me off, not even glancing at the small cut on my palm where the broken clasp had sliced through my skin.

“I’m not going to apologize for wanting to keep something that is important to me.” I snapped back as calmly as I could, feeling the heat rush to my cheeks.

“God, Sabrina!” Harvey exclaimed, exasperated. “Why can’t you just be the bigger person for once?”

I felt rage and pain coiling tightly in my chest, a dark storm building, but yet I tried to find the strength to bury it deep within me. Why was I the one who always had to take the high road?

How many times had I played nice when they laughed off the taunts back at school? The ones who called me a puppy for Harvey and Nicolas, or worse, the ones who branded me as a slut for being “so love-struck” with them? The thinness of my frame had made me an easy target. All those times they laughed it off, never realizing how it hurt.

“You don’t get it,” I said, my voice quivering now, the pain clawing at my throat. “You never have. This isn’t just about the jewelry.”

Harvey stepped closer, his eyes softer now, but still firm. “Then what is it? Why are you being so stubborn?”

The truth hung heavy in the air, something I was terrified to say out loud. “Because it’s not just a piece of jewelry. It’s part of my future, of my history. It’s… It's important.”

Was the last thing I could make out. At the end of the sentence I felt deflated and exhausted, unsure what were the right words to say anymore.

The room fell silent, the heaviness of my words sinking in. Savvy wiped her eyes, and Nicolas shifted uncomfortably, while Harvey’s expression softened, realizing he had pushed too far.

“I didn’t mean to—” I started, but the moment was broken by my phone ringing again, shattering the tension like glass.

I glanced down and saw my mother’s name flash on the screen. “Excuse me,” I muttered, stepping away from the gathering storm of emotions in the room.

“Mom?” I answered, my heart racing as I felt the need for her familiar presence.

“Sabrina,” she said, her voice warm yet weary. “Have you booked your flight yet? I really want to see you soon.”

I felt my stomach drop, the reminder of the impending visit hitting me. “I’m looking into it, Mom,” I replied, forcing a calmness into my tone. “I promise I’ll arrange something soon.”

Harvey and Nicolas exchanged glances, curiosity in their eyes. “What’s going on?” Nicolas asked, stepping closer, trying to catch a glimpse of my conversation.

“It’s nothing,” I shot back, hoping to keep my mother’s worries private. But their interest only grew, and I felt their presence pressing down on me.

“Are you sure?” Harvey pushed, a hint of concern lacing his tone. “Is something wrong?”

I glanced back at Savvy, who was still sitting on the floor, clutching the broken clasp. The room felt too small, the walls closing in, and I knew I had to keep this together.

“It’s just about my mom. It's not really anything important,” I said, trying to sound more confident than I felt.

They nodded, but the tension in the air remained thick, unresolved. I hung up and turned to them, ready to deflect their questions, but the truth was heavy on my heart. I had so much to sort through, and at that moment, I didn’t know if I could bear it all.

Of course it was Savvy that had to speak. “It didn't sound like nothing, Brina, you even seem flustered.”