With a soft sigh, she re-read the entry, pen in hand, before crinkling the paper and tossing it into the trash. This had been the fourth and best, but she still wasn't satisfied.

She was done with it all: the abuse, her narcissism... After all these years, she already had mentalillness and had attempted suicide.

She just wanted to start afresh. Better yet, live far from her mother, wherever that may be.

"Alexxa!"

She jolted, looking to her bedroom door from the bed. "Clara, is that you?"

The door creaked open, a face peering through. "Yes... Can I can in?"

Alexxa only nodded.

In her pink pajamas, her nine-year-old sister stepped through, shutting the door behind her.

It was the dead of night, her lamp on the end table providing

just enough light. For a moment, all was silent.

"What are you doing here?" Alexxa asked, glancing at the door. "If mother wakes up, she'll blame me. I know she will."

Clara, huffed and plopped beside her on the bed, face in hands. "You're really leaving, aren't you?"

"Wha-"

"You mentioned it yesterday and now I keep hearing you write. But- but I don't want you to leave!"

Alexxa shushed her. "Just be quiet, okay?"

Clara wiped at her eyes, then looked to her feet. "Okay... but Alexxa?"

"Yeah?"

"When you leave, just know that I'll miss you. I know how mother treats you." Clara gave a small smile. Then, without warning, she wrapped her into a hug.

As she hugged back, Alexxa blinked back her own tears. "I'll miss you, too."