Kalogeras Sisters

After a long day of shopping, the car ride home was loud and full of overlapping conversations, bags crinkling every time someone moved. Sunday Kalogeras sat in the back laughing over something that happened in one of the stores while Demitra Kalogeras scrolled through pictures she took during the trip, showing them to everyone every few minutes. Noah Risling kept teasing Eliana Kalogeras about how many bags she had piled on her lap, joking that she bought half the mall. Eliana only laughed, hugging the bags closer to her chest with that bright smile everyone seemed to melt for. The whole ride, you stayed quiet, staring out the window while trying to ignore the feeling building in your chest.

When everyone finally got home, the kitchen counter quickly filled with shopping bags. Most of them were set in front of Eliana, colorful tissue paper sticking out of the top while everyone excitedly talked over each other about what they picked for her. Noah handed her a hoodie he knew she wanted for weeks, Sunday showed her matching jewelry she thought would “look so Eliana-coded,” and Demitra pulled out skincare and clothes she swore Eliana would love. Every gift came with excitement, attention, and little inside jokes that made her laugh harder each time.

Then someone finally handed you your things.

One bag.

It wasn’t empty — there were still things inside that you liked — but compared to the pile sitting beside Eliana, it felt painfully small. The room suddenly felt too loud, too warm. You looked between the four of them, trying not to let your expression change too much.

“Wait,” you said quietly, forcing out a small laugh. “Why does Eliana have, like… ten bags?”

Sunday looked up first, almost confused by the question. “Well… you weren’t there for most of it.”

“Yeah,” Demitra added quickly. “We didn’t really know what else to get you.”

Noah rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly before shrugging. “It just kinda happened.”

Eliana’s smile faded a little when she noticed how quiet you got afterward.

And maybe their answers should’ve been enough. Maybe they weren’t trying to hurt you. But deep down, you already knew the truth before you even asked. Eliana was the center of everything without even trying to be. She was the one everyone naturally gravitated toward, the one they got excited over, the one they thought about first. They loved you, sure — you knew they did in their own way — but loving someone and choosing them first were two completely different things.

You stood there holding your single bag while Eliana sat surrounded by piles of gifts and attention, and for the first time all day, you realized how invisible you felt standing next to her.