Dahlia is overjoyed when her younger sister, Fran, surprises her with a couch for her new apartment, but she soon realizes the couch hides a nasty secret. While dealing with the consequences of Fran’s gift, Dahlia confronts her sister in an argument that might destroy their bond forever.
I stood in the doorway of my new apartment, the keys jangling in my hand, unable to contain my excitement. This was it! After years of scrimping and saving, I finally had a place to call my own.
“Dahlia, this place is amazing!” my friend Rob exclaimed, giving me a tight hug.
“Thanks, Rob,” I beamed, looking around. “It’s everything I ever wanted.”
Soon, the apartment was filled with the chatter and laughter of friends and family, each one bearing gifts. But it was my younger sister, Fran, who stole the show. She waltzed in with a smirk, her arms thrown wide as if she owned the place.
“Surprise!” she shouted, stopping short in front of me. “Your gift is waiting downstairs. Come on, you’re gonna love it.”
Intrigued, I followed her down to the sidewalk, where I saw it: a bright blue couch, sitting there in all its glory.
“Fran! What on earth…?” I gaped, my eyes nearly popping out of my head.
“Thought I’d get you something special for your new place. Do you like it?” she asked, her eyes sparkling with mischief.
“It’s…wow, it’s extravagant. How did you afford this?” I couldn’t help but ask. Fran was notorious for her financial troubles, always struggling to make ends meet.
She waved a hand dismissively. “Oh, you know, I have my ways. Besides, you deserve it, big sis.”
I stormed out of Dahlia’s apartment, slamming the door so hard the walls shook. My heart pounded with anger, and my mind raced with thoughts of revenge.
I hugged her, feeling a strange mix of gratitude and suspicion. Fran had always been a bit of a wild card, unpredictable and often irresponsible. But tonight, I wanted to believe she had done something genuinely kind.
Rob and a few of my other male friends volunteered to carry the couch up to my apartment. They grunted and groaned, but eventually, it was settled in my living room, looking oddly perfect in its new home.
The party carried on into the night, and eventually, everyone left, leaving me and Rob to admire the new couch. We decided to crash there, too tired to head home. I fell asleep easily, the joy of the day wrapping around me like a warm blanket.
A few hours later, I was jolted awake by Rob shaking me. His face was pale, eyes wide with horror. “Dahlia, wake up! Your couch is full of bedbugs! You have to get rid of it!”
“What are you talking about?” I whispered, still groggy. “Fran got it for me. It should be fine.”
“Your sister, who parties her way through college and barely has money to fix her car? You must be kidding me. There’s no way she would save up for a couch for you. Come to think of it, I can’t remember when she has ever done anything for you.”
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