Chapter 8: The Return of the Old Jealousy
Just when the family thought things were finally peaceful, life tested them again.
Aaliyah received an exciting opportunity.
Her college offered her a chance to attend a prestigious summer program.
It was a huge achievement.
The type of opportunity students dreamed about.
When she opened the email, she screamed.
David ran into the room.
“What happened?””
Aaliyah turned the laptop around.
“I got accepted!””
David’s face immediately lit up.
“That’s amazing!””
He hugged her.
Vanessa congratulated her.
Even Mia smiled.
“I knew you would get it.””
For a moment, everything was perfect.
But later that night, Mia sat alone in her room.
And the old feeling returned.
Not as strong as before.
But it was there.
That uncomfortable voice.
Why does everything happen for her?
Why is she always the one people celebrate?
Mia closed her eyes.
She hated that feeling.
Because she knew better now.
She knew Aaliyah wasn’t her enemy.
But knowing something and feeling something were not always the same.
The next morning, Mia was quieter than usual.
Aaliyah noticed.
“You okay?””
Mia shrugged.
“Yeah.””
Aaliyah studied her.
“You don’t sound okay.””
Mia sighed.
“I’m just thinking.””
“About what?””
Mia hesitated.
Then she told the truth.
“I’m happy for you.””
Aaliyah smiled.
“But?””
Mia looked away.
“But sometimes I still feel jealous.””
Aaliyah was surprised.
Not because Mia admitted jealousy.
Because she admitted it before acting on it.
“That’s actually honest.””
Mia laughed.
“Not exactly a compliment.””
“It is.””
Aaliyah sat beside her.
“Feelings happen. What matters is what you do with them.””
Mia looked at her.
“How do you always know what to say?””
“I don’t.””
Aaliyah smiled.
“I just learned the hard way.””
That conversation changed something.
Because Mia realized growth didn’t mean never having bad feelings again.
It meant learning how to handle them.
But not everyone was happy about the family changing.
Someone else was watching.
Someone who didn’t like seeing Mia become different.
Mia’s old friend, Brianna.
Brianna had always encouraged Mia’s worst behavior.
Whenever Mia complained about Aaliyah, Brianna agreed.
Whenever Mia felt jealous, Brianna made it worse.
“You’re letting her win,” Brianna said one afternoon.
Mia frowned.
“What are you talking about?””
“This whole nice-girl thing.””
Mia sighed.
“I’m not pretending.””
Brianna laughed.
“Come on. You used to be confident.””
“I still am.””
“No. You’re becoming like her.””
That comment bothered Mia.
Because it touched the exact insecurity she had been fighting.
Brianna noticed.
“You know what everyone says, right?””
Mia looked at her.
“What?””
“That Aaliyah is the successful one. The responsible one. The favorite.””
Mia became quiet.
Brianna leaned closer.
“You’re disappearing.””
Those words followed Mia all day.
Because they sounded familiar.
They sounded like the old thoughts in her own mind.
That evening, Mia found Aaliyah preparing for her summer program.
She watched her carefully.
The old Mia would have made a comment.
She would have found something negative.
But this time, she didn’t.
Instead, she said:
“Do you need help?””
Aaliyah looked surprised.
“Actually, yes.””
Mia smiled.
And for once, helping someone else didn’t feel like losing.
It felt like becoming better.
But outside the house, Brianna wasn’t done.
She believed Mia had changed because she was weak.
May you like
And she decided she was going to prove otherwise.
She had no idea that her plan would uncover something from the past that would change everything.
