She stood up and went to the bathroom, she stared at her reflection in the bathroom mirror for a long time.
Her eyes were red and swollen, lashes clumped together from tears she hadn't fully cried out yet. Her face looked unfamiliar—smaller somehow, like the house had already begun to erase her.
She turned on the tap and splashed cold water onto her cheeks, gasping slightly at the shock. It helped. Not much, but enough to steady her breathing. She pressed a towel to her face, dabbing carefully, as if being gentle with herself might keep her from breaking again.
"You're okay," she whispered to her reflection, though her voice trembled. "Just be a good girl. Be calm."
She brushed her hair back into place, smoothing it with shaky fingers. The girl staring back at her tried to look composed, tried to look like she was strong.
When she finally stepped out of the bathroom and walked down the stairs, the sound of voices met her halfway.
Her family was gathered in the living room.
Her parents sat close together on the couch, their bodies angled protectively toward the biological daughter, who sat between them like something precious that might shatter if touched too roughly. She looked comfortable already—relaxed, confident, at home.
When she noticed Emily, her lips curved upward.
Not a smile.
A smirk, small, fleeting, but unmistakable.
Emily's chest tightened.
She stopped at the bottom of the stairs, hands clasped in front of her. "You wanted to see me?" she asked quietly.
Mrs. Langford looked up. "Yes. Come sit."
Emily obeyed, perching on the edge of a chair opposite them. She avoided looking at the biological daughter, though she could feel her gaze like a needle pressing into her skin.
Mr. Langford cleared his throat. "We've been talking."
Emily nodded. "Okay."
Her mother smiled tightly. "Your sister has been through a lot, Emily. More than any of us can truly imagine."
Emily swallowed. "I understand."
"She needs to feel safe," Mrs. Langford continued. "Comfortable. Like she's truly home."
Emily's fingers curled together.
Mr. Langford leaned forward. "That's why we've decided she should have your bedroom."
The words didn't register at first.
"My… bedroom?" Emily repeated softly.
"Yes," her mother said, as if this were the most reasonable thing in the world. "It's the largest. The most settled. It will help her feel grounded."
Emily blinked. "But—that's my room."
The biological daughter shifted slightly, her smirk deepening just enough for Emily to notice.
Mrs. Langford sighed. "Emily, please don't make this difficult."
"I'm not trying to," Emily said quickly. "I just—can we talk about it?"
Mr. Langford frowned. "What's there to discuss?"
Emily's heart began to pound. "I've lived in that room for years. All my things are there. My clothes, my books—"
"You can move them," her mother said briskly. "The guest room is perfectly fine."
Emily shook her head slowly. "The guest room is?"
"She can stay there instead of making me move my things."
"no," Mrs. Langford snapped.
"You're acting like we're throwing you out."
"I didn't say that," Emily whispered. "I just—maybe she could stay there for now?
Until she settles in? Or we could switch later?"
The biological daughter let out a soft, almost amused breath.
"I don't want to feel like a guest," she said gently, her voice sounding timid. "but it's fine if you don't want to give me your room. Her voice calm with fake sweetness"
Emily looked at her then, hope.
"You're not." Mr Longford snapped.
She tilted her head. " But she looks upset and I don't want to be the reason for any contradiction"
Emily froze.
Mrs. Langford turned sharply toward Emily.
"See? You're making her uncomfortable again."
"I'm not," Emily said, panic creeping into her voice. "I'm just asking for time."
Mr. Langford's expression hardened. "You need to be more understanding."
"I am trying," Emily said, her voice shaking now. "Please. That room—it's the only space that feels like mine."
Her mother's eyes narrowed. "You're being selfish."
The word hit Emily like a blow.
"I'm not selfish," she whispered. "I just—this house already feels different. I don't recognize it anymore." Emily said in her mind.
Silence fell.
The biological daughter looked down at her hands, suddenly fragile. "I don't want to cause problems," she murmured.
"Maybe I should just stay in the guest room."
Mrs. Langford immediately wrapped an arm around her. "No. Don't say that."
Mr. Langford nodded firmly. "This is your home. You're not discomforting anyone."
Emily's breath hitched. "So is it mine?"
No one answered her directly.
Mrs. Langford exhaled sharply. "Emily, you're overreacting. It's just a room."
"It's not just a room to me," Emily said, tears gathering despite her effort to hold them back. "It's where I grew up. Where I feel safe."
"You're an adult now," her father said flatly.
"You shouldn't be this attached."
Emily's lips trembled. "I didn't know I was going to lose everything today."
Her mother stood up. "You're not losing everything. You're gaining a sister."
Emily looked at the biological daughter, who met her gaze calmly, triumph flickering briefly in her eyes.
"Please," Emily said softly. "I'm asking you to reconsider."
Mrs. Langford's patience snapped. "This conversation is over."
Mr. Langford nodded. "She moves into your room tonight. You'll take the guest room."
Emily stared at them, disbelief washing over her.
"I don't have a choice?" she asked quietly.
"No," her father said.
The word settled heavily among them.
Emily nodded slowly, because she didn't know what else to do. Because fighting felt useless. Because she was tired in a way sleep would never fix.
"Okay," she whispered.
The biological daughter smiled.
Not sweetly.
Satisfied.
Mrs. Langford relaxed immediately. "Good. I knew you'd understand."
Emily stood up, her legs unsteady. "I'll start packing."
She walked away without waiting for permission, each step heavier than the last.
Mr Longford stood up and went into the master's bedroom, without saying another word.
While Mrs Longford sat with her daughter in the living room.
upstairs, in a room that no longer belonged to her, Emily felt something inside her quietly broke.