- 5.
When my parents showed up, Ashley was on
the school roof, acting crazy.
She was holding a box cutter to her wrist,
crying her eyes out.
“She stole my place at Stanford, and now
she’s getting away with it! It’s not fair!”
<
“I’m so tired. I have nothing to live for…”
“Mom and Dad, I’m sorry for letting you down.
I’ll make it up to you in my next life!”
Her words scared everyone.
People started telling her not to do anything
stupid.
My parents were even more desperate.
“Ashley, don’t do this to us!
“You’re our only daughter! Don’t make us
bury you!”
Ashley gave me a smug look.
Like she was saying, “Lilly, no matter what
you do, I’ll always be Mom and Dad’s
favorite!”
I clenched my fists, then let it go.
Before, my parents would have thought I was
trying to provoke Ashley.
They had forgotten that I tutored the boss’s
kid for free, helping her get into college and
getting my dad a promotion.
When Mom had surgery, I stayed up all night
with her and got sick in the process.
When Ashley “disappeared,” I was the one
who held the family together.
I gave them everything, but they didn’t care.
I should have known.
I was the one who had done nothing wrong.
They didn’t deserve my sacrifices!
My parents were busy begging Ashley to
come down.
She was shaking and sobbing, “Why is my
sister stealing my honor?
“Everyone thinks I’m the fake…
“I just want an apology! Why is everyone so
mean to me?”
She closed her eyes, tilted her head back, and
raised the box cutter to her wrist.
Mom ran forward and grabbed her, throwing
the box cutter away and hugging her tight.
Dad turned white, then finally relaxed when
Ashley was safe.
Then he slapped me hard across the face.
“How could I raise such a cold–hearted
daughter? Apologize to Ashley right now! You
almost killed someone! She’s your sister!”
“Sister?”
I wiped the blood from my mouth. “The sister
who called me a thief? I’m so honored.”
Ashley had been trying to kill me all along!
“Lilly, you’re just jealous of Ashley! You’re
trying to hurt her!”
Nearby, Mom was cooing over Ashley, but
<
when she looked at me, her eyes turned cold.
“Ashley’s been through so much! Why are you
fighting with her?”
“She’s not thinking clearly. And even if she
was wrong, you’re her sister! Just let it go!
“I wish I never had you! You’re a disgrace!”
The teachers and students were shocked.
But it was a family matter, so they didn’t
interfere.
Then the police showed up.
Dad’s face changed when he saw them.
“Lilly, are you crazy? You’re trying to send
<
your own family to jail!”
I ignored him and told the police, “I want to
report Ashley for falsely accusing me of
stealing her spot at Stanford and verbally
abusing me. I want justice.”
Everyone started whispering.
Because I was willing to call the cops, they
started to wonder if Ashley was lying.
Dad got angry.
“Lilly, shut up! If you keep this up, you’re out
of this family forever!”
Mom grabbed the box cutter and threw it at
me, yelling, “You eat our food and live in our
house! Now that you’re grown up, you think
you can do whatever you want?”
“If you let the police take Ashley or hurt her,
you’re not my daughter anymore!”
Chapter 2
