Chapter 5: A Promise for Emily

As soon as Dad left, I went to my sister’s room. Emily’s room was always a cozy, sunlit mess—books stacked in wobbly towers, a record player humming something folksy in the corner.

She was napping on the couch. When she saw me enter, a hint of surprise flashed across her face. She tucked her legs beneath her and blinked sleepily.

“Anna, what brings you here?”

I remembered that in my previous life, I’d disliked this sister for reasons I could never explain. Yet, when I was in trouble in the White House, she was the first to try to help me. It stung, thinking how little I’d appreciated her kindness.

Later, she got married, but her husband wasn’t a good man. When she died, she was nothing but skin and bones. That memory haunted me, guilt threading through every thought.

“I just want to tell you, don’t rush into marriage.”

Now, my sister was fifteen, just past her sweet sixteen, and many neighbors had already come to ask about her. I remembered the awkward phone calls from local boys, her blushes and laughter echoing through the halls.

She covered her mouth with a napkin and giggled.

“Alright.”

Before I entered the White House, I had to help her choose a good husband, so she could live a peaceful life. I felt oddly protective, determined to change her fate.

“In a few days, come with me to the spring garden party.”

At that event, many outstanding young men would be present, and Rachel would certainly attend as well. The thought made my stomach flutter with anticipation.

This time, I had to win his favor early—even getting into the First Family as the first would be fine. My mind spun with possibilities: smiling at the right moment, choosing the right words, making an impression that would last.

Thinking of this, I couldn’t help but smile. The sun through the window warmed my face, and for a moment, the future felt full of hope.