"Any last volunteers for the Everglades outreach program? Speak now or forever hold your peace!" "I’m in! Wait for me!" Outside the community center, Sarah Quinn sprinted up, her breath visible in the chilly air. She barely made it in time to hand in her application. "Here you go. I’ll take whatever assignment you’ve got. Doesn’t matter where," Sarah said, her tone firm. Laura Jenkins, the head of the program, glanced at the paper and then at Sarah with a raised eyebrow. "Sarah Quinn? Why are you getting mixed up in this? This program will keep you away for three to five years at least. Some folks never come back, you know." Laura’s skepticism deepened. "If I accept this, Jack’s going to lose his mind and come storming in here, demanding I send you home. Don’t make my life harder, okay?" She tried to hand the form back, shooing Sarah away with a light wave. But Sarah didn’t budge. Instead, she pressed the application firmly back into Laura’s hands. "I’m going. Jack Cheney can’t stop me. And please, don’t tell him yet—I’ll handle it myself." Laura hesitated, caught off guard by Sarah’s determination. After a pause, she reluctantly added Sarah’s name to the list. "Fair warning," Laura said with a sigh. "This doesn’t look good. Jack treats you like you’re the light of his life. Think he’ll just let you go that easy? Don’t get your hopes up." The "light of his life." Sarah repeated the words silently, her gaze dropping to the floor. By all appearances, Jack Cheney adored her. Everyone in their tight-knit community whispered about how lucky she was to have him. She had believed it too—once. That was until this morning, when she stumbled across a rusty tin box shoved deep inside their bedroom closet. Inside were forty-two unsent love letters. Every single one was addressed to her younger sister, Lily Quinn. The discovery cut like a blade. All this time, she had been nothing more than a stand-in. Jack’s grand, public show of love and commitment had never been meant for her—it had been meant for someone who just happened to share her face, her blood. Sarah shook herself from her thoughts, muttering a distracted "Uh-huh" to Laura before heading home. She didn’t get far before she spotted Jack pedaling up the road on his bike. The backseat was loaded with two thick comforters, tied down and swaying slightly. The red floral pattern caught her eye—it was the exact design she had casually mentioned wanting weeks ago. "There you are!" Jack called, hopping off the bike. "Where’d you rush off to? Here—check these out. I had these made for you. You were complaining about cold feet the other night, remember? These should help." Sarah shifted on her feet, her chest tightening. Why go to such lengths? Why act like she was his whole world when his heart was so clearly elsewhere? "What’s wrong? You’ve been spacing out since I got here," Jack asked, his voice tinged with concern. "Huh?" Sarah snapped out of her thoughts, shaking her head quickly. "Oh, it’s nothing. Just... Mom and Dad wrote to me. Lily’s coming to town for some errands. She’ll be stopping by to visit." Her voice trailed off, her fingers digging into the soft fabric of the comforter. She couldn’t bring herself to look up. Jack, however, didn’t notice her unease. The moment he heard Lily’s name, his eyes lit up with palpable excitement. "Lily’s coming? Why didn’t you tell me sooner?" he blurted. "I should get some things ready for her. We’re low on groceries—she always loved fish, right? I’ll head out and pick some up." He talked as though Sarah wasn’t even there, rattling off plans to give Lily the sunniest room in the house. His enthusiasm was almost infectious, but to Sarah, it felt like a slap. "You seem... happy that she’s coming," she said quietly, forcing a strained smile. Jack froze, realizing too late that his excitement might have been a little too obvious. He hesitated before slipping an arm around her shoulders. "Of course I’m happy. She’s your sister, after all. What, are you jealous?" he teased, trying to lighten the mood. "No," Sarah murmured, stepping out of his grasp. "You should get moving if you’re heading to the store. It’ll be dark soon, and the roads won’t be easy." "Alright, I’m on it," Jack said, oblivious to the distance in her voice. He grabbed his bike and pedaled off, leaving Sarah standing alone in the fading light.