The day before my sister’s wedding, my mother secretly shaved my head to ‘protect the bride’ so that she wouldn’t be overshadowed—But they didn’t know that I had prepared a retaliation that would shock the entire wedding party

The Note

Her dress hung untouched, perfect in its bag. I didn’t ruin it. Instead, I took a blank card and one of her glittery pens.

You didn’t win. You never even competed. I’m not part of this game anymore. Good luck tomorrow. Try not to lie too hard during your vows.
—Claire

I left my house key on the kitchen counter. No note for Mom. No goodbye for Dad. I owed them nothing.