“Dad’s inheritance is for my wedding,” my sister screamed from behind. I felt hands on my back, then falling. Fifteen concrete steps. My head hit every third one. the spine specialist marked “ᴀssᴀᴜʟᴛ-related vertebrae fracture.” The emergency scan went to administration. “Hospital CEO admitted with ᴛʀᴀᴜᴍᴀᴛɪᴄ ɪɴᴊᴜʀɪᴇs.”

Her expression hardened instantly and the softness vanished. “You are going to regret this decision,” she said quietly before turning and walking away.

The next afternoon I was carrying a basket of clean laundry up the narrow basement stairs inside my house when I heard footsteps behind me.

“It is my inheritance,” Olivia’s voice said suddenly from the darkness below.

Before I could fully turn around her hands slammed into my back with violent force, and the world tipped sideways as my foot slipped off the concrete step.

I remember the sensation of falling, the impact of each stair against my ribs and shoulder, and the terrible sound when my head struck the concrete floor at the bottom.

When my vision cleared slightly I saw Olivia standing at the top of the stairs looking down at me.

“Get up,” she said impatiently.

Kyle appeared behind her with a horrified expression. “Oh my God she is bleeding badly.”

“She is pretending,” Olivia snapped angrily.

Kyle slowly stepped down the stairs and stared at me. “She cannot move,” he whispered before pulling out his phone. “I am calling emergency services right now.”

Olivia turned toward him in disbelief. “What are you doing?”

“What should have happened earlier,” he answered before dialing 911.