Walter's POV
No matter what the dynamics between mine and Ella's father were, I still adored Ella. She is my sister, and I could never let anything wrong happen to her.
When I was 14 and Ella was 13, she lost her mother in a fire during a vacation they went to. Since then, Ella became depressed. It was as if all life was sucked out of her. Me, Jacob, and Steve would become literal clowns just to see a flicker of a smile wash over her face, but nothing helped. It was like she became a ghost of herself, and my heart physically hurt looking at her like that.
My uncle, Ella's father, also couldn't handle it. He began drinking a lot, and Ella had no one by her side. My mom, seeing all this, decided to move in with them. Soon, Ella, her father, my parents, and I started living together. My mom would help in the house and manage everything—sending us to school and feeding us while my father helped in my uncle's business. He started taking over the meetings and managing it all while my uncle slipped deeper into alcoholism.
Ella stopped hanging out with us. We had to force her out of her room, but she insisted on staying inside, as if there was a monster outside waiting to devour her. In those moments, I felt like I would take all her pain away and give it to myself.
During this time, I became close with Tina and fell in love with her. We started dating, and she became the only saving grace for me.
Jacob's POV
Ella, the most beautiful girl one could lay their eyes on. My heart would be out of control, my head would stop existing, my body would shiver, and my soul would yearn for her—even if she was right next to me. If it were possible, I would always keep her in my pocket so I could never lose her. I loved her always, and that love became my existence. I didn't feel it—I knew I was born just to love her.
When we were 13, I thought to make it official. But then her mom died, and I couldn't ask her. She retreated within herself and became a person I didn't know, and I couldn't do anything about it. I became miserable, and my friends were all I had. I became happy occasionally when she came out of her room, when I could see her at school, but she stopped talking as if she didn't know how to talk at all.
Rachel came in with her support. She confessed she loves me, but I can't be anyone's—I just want Ella. Rachel understood and became the best friend I never had.
Steve's POV
I envy Jacob. I hate Jacob. At the same time, I care for Jacob. He is my best friend, and he was the one who took me into the group. He was the one who made me feel alive when I lost my parents. I was a shy kid, and he was the one who breathed life into me.
I envy him because I know Ella would always choose him. I hate him because I feel like it is so easy for him to laugh with Rachel when Ella is suffering. But I can't blame him. I can see the laugh never reaches his eyes. Rachel was a huge help to us me and Jacob both. She knew I secretly love Ella, but she kept this secret to herself and supported me quietly. She would even sit somewhere else so I could, even for a few seconds, sit next to Ella and admire her beauty.
I wish that night never happened. I wish Ella isn't the person she showed she is. I wish Ella wasn't a monster.