The Murder House Chapter 2

After high school graduation, my sister and I went our separate ways.

She got into her dream college and took a Greyhound north.

I didn't even make the cutoff for community college. I hung out with the wrong crowd instead.

Our relatives couldn't stop gossiping.

"Twins, same mom, same dad—how can their IQs be so different?"

"One daughter's a blessing, the other's a curse."

My sister always defended me, shutting the relatives up every time.

She was our family's pride—graduated college with honors, got into grad school, then landed a job at a major corporation in the city.

And me? I got into fights, became a club girl hanging around dive bars.

Disturbing the peace, five days in county lockup. When I got home, Mom and Dad were sobbing.

The atmosphere was strange.

"Come on, it's not that serious. You two better pull yourselves together before Emma gets home tomorrow, or she'll give me hell for making you cry."

I knew I was a screwup—impulsive, hot-tempered, nothing like my sweet, obedient sister.

The moment I finished speaking, Mom burst into even harder tears, nearly fainting.

"Emma, my Emma... she's not coming home..."