She gave me her credit card and said "Have fun." Momma--my mother, who had instilled in me since the day I was born, that I should be frugal and lectured me about materialism. And my dad... He watched the card changing hands with that distant and removed look that had come to mark him. I wasn't sure if it was hush money, get-Kat-out-of-the-house money, or pity money--a normal teenager probably wouldn't care, but I did. I dreaded the thought of perusing through racks and racks of clothes, trying on shoes, and admiring jewelry. What was the purpose?
"Kat." Elle was holding a sleek pair of black heels that brought an instant smile to my face. "Stop thinking and start looking."
"Those would go great with that dress we saw earlier!" Fi chimed in. "If only you had a hot date to wear them to--oh, that's right; you do!"
I rolled my eyes at their banter, but scooped the shoes out of Elle's hands without thought. "I don't think these are first date shoes..."
Fi scrunched up her nose and her bright eyes smiled at me. "If you don't want them, I do!"
"But I found them," Elle pointed out, snatching the shoes back. "That gives me next dibs."
As the two of them continued bickering over the shoes, I sighed. There were so many to choose from--and I didn't see many that I didn't like. I wanted something practical; they needed to be comfortable and suited for multiple venues. Of course I would need something stylish, too; first impressions are permanent so I needed to put my best foot forward. I spied a pair of multi-colored, strappy flats on a pedestal in a neglected corner.
Before I could stop myself, I'd already had the though: those were her shoes. And there Charlotte was. My own eyes staring back at me from my sister's ghost. Her face lit up as she followed my gaze to the shoes, but before she could reach out for them she was collapsing toward the ground. That image would never go away--red, red...so much red. Come back, Kat. Come back.
"Why am I crying?"