After Dad died, Mom planned to commit suicide by drinking sulfuric acid, taking three–year–old me with her.]]
When she tried to give it to me first, her hand trembled accidentally, spilling half the bottle all over my face.[]
As I screamed in agony, covering my face, she was so terrified by my hideous, acid–burned appearance that she ran away–and never came back.]
I lived like that, with my ghostly appearance, until I was twenty–five.[]
Finally, luck smiled on me–I found a boyfriend who didn’t seem to mind my looks, and his stepsister Zara treated me like her best friend.[]
On Zara’s birthday, they both invited me to their family gathering.] –
on
I was overjoyed and spent two hours going to buy a birthday cake from Zara’s favorite shop.
The moment I reached their front door, I could hear laughter and chatter from inside.[]
“Zara, sweetie, any luck finding that bone marrow donor? Your brother mentioned it’s someone you guys know–they’ll definitely help out!“]
“Don’t worry, Mom. It’s my brother’s girlfriend. She’s totally devoted to us. She’ll come through for sure.“]
I rang the doorbell. A middle–aged woman opened the door, but the moment she saw me, she slammed it shut.[]
I stood there stunned. So the woman who had just been speaking was her? It had been over twenty years each other…]
After a long moment, she cracked the door open, her expression disgusted.]]
since we’d last s
seen
“What the hell are you doing here? I’ve got a family now. If you can’t make it on your own, go die somewhere else! Don’t you dare mess with my life!“]
I didn’t say a word. Just set down the gift and cake and smiled faintly.[]
“Happy birthday.”
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I caught a flicker of guilt in her eyes before I turned and walked away.[]
I’d been waiting for this moment for a long time.]]
The next day at work, my boyfriend Marcus came rushing over, worry mixed with accusation in his voice.[]
“Riley, what happened yesterday? Zara’s birthday party–my parents waited for you for hours. How come you were a no–show?”
1 studied Marcus’s eyes, trying to figure out how much of what he felt for me was real.[]
“Something came up.“]
“You could’ve at least given us a heads up. I called you like fifty times yesterday–when you didn’t pick up, I thought something terrible had happened.”
I just shook my head and went back to my work.]]
Marcus glanced around, then suddenly pulled me into the stairwell and handed me a medical report, his tone dead serious.[]
“Riley, I need to ask you for a huge favor.“]]
Remembering yesterday’s conversation about bone marrow donation, I already knew what was coming.]
Sure enough, the report showed Zara’s leukemia diagnosis. The next page, our compatibility results.]
“Zara–she’s got leukemia and needs a bone marrow transplant. Remember that company health screening? I took your sample for testing without asking… I’m sorry, but it was a successful match!“]
“That family gathering yesterday was supposed to be when I told you. Look, I know your face situation isn’t ideal, but this could actually help you bond with my family.“]
“Then we can get married smoothly!“]
Marcus sounded excited, determined, like this was already a done deal.[]
“Marcus, I don’t want to donate.”
He clearly hadn’t expected me to refuse. Just stood there, stunned.]
Why should I agree?]
Give me at least one reason.[]
After being disfigured and abandoned, it was old Mr. Peterson next door who got me to the hospital.[]
The pain and mockery I’ve endured all these years have always kept me on the edge of suicide.]
Every single day, I had to cake on foundation and hide behind a mask.[]
Because of my face, no matter how high I scored on tests or how talented I was, I could only get the most basic jobs.]
I can’t even have any reflective surfaces in my apartment, and I keep the curtains drawn year–round–I was terrified of seeing my own face, uglier than any ghost.
So, now, I really wanted to see what Marcus would choose.[]
Would he pity my tragic past and give up?]
“Riley, Zara’s your best friend!“]]
“You…you worried about surgical complications, do you?”
Mom 1 became Good Cooded You Love Me Now?
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Marcus grabbed my arms, but he could only look at my lips–I knew well he was too scared to see the disgusting scars on my face.]]
My heart sank.[]
“Bone marrow donation doesn’t hurt. Actually, the hardest part is finding a match, and you two are already compatible. Some donors walk out the same day. Riley, please! Just save Zara.“[]
Of course we were compatible–she was my sister too, for real, in blood.[]
I knew Marcus was clueless about that, but was he really okay with my disfigurement, or just putting up with it for the bone marrow?]
But… why couldn’t he even look at my scars?||
Maybe I already knew.[]
I just didn’t want to admit.]]
“Sorry, I can’t donate. You’ll have to find someone else.“]
I started to leave, but Marcus yanked me back.]
“Riley, how can you be so heartless? Everyone stares and talks shit about you! Zara and I never treated you like that. Besides us, who else would even deal with a freak like you?“]
“It’s just a simple procedure. You won’t even save your friend’s life?!“]]
I turned back around and locked eyes with him.[]
“I’ll donate, but I want five million dollars, plus Victoria needs to get on her knees and apologize to me.“[]
“Meet both conditions, and I’ll see you at the hospital in three days.“[]
Under his shocked and conflicted expression, I just turned and walked away.
Around midnight, Marcus texted me.[]
[My family agreed to your conditions. I had no idea about your history with my stepmother, Victoria. I’m sorry, Riley.]]]
Agreed?
But I never swore that I would actually go to the hospital.[]
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