- 3.
“I’m sorry, Lilly. I saw your acceptance letter
and it triggered me. It wasn’t my fault,”
Ashley sobbed, clinging to our parents. Her
eyes were red, like she’d been through a lot.
“If it wasn’t for what happened, I could’ve
been that smart too.”
Everyone felt sorry for her instantly.
く
Brandon glared at me, his fists clenched,
“Have you no shame? Ashley suffered so
much, and you flaunt your success in her
face!”
“So what if you’re smart? You’re a terrible
human being if you don’t have any sympathy!”
He had been bragging about my Stanford
acceptance on social media, saying how
proud he was of his little sister.
Now, he threw the letter into the fireplace.
In seconds, all my hard work was turned into
ashes.
My parents said nothing to stop him, even
warning me to behave.
“Ashley’s had a tough time. As a family, we
need to make it up to her.”
“Stop being so selfish, Lilly. If you upset
Ashley again, you’ll regret it!
“Next time you do it, you’re out of here! We
don’t need selfish brats in this house!”
They were only thinking about Ashley.
They didn’t even notice that I was almost
burned with hot oil.
It was my birthday. No cake, no candles, no
real wishes.
Just like before.
Even when I was dead, they would have
brushed it off as Ashley having an episode
and gotten her off the hook.
On the day of my funeral, they would have
walked Ashley down the aisle in a wedding
dress, happily starting a new life.
Even with a second chance, their cruel words
still hurt.
Looking at my messed–up family, I just
shrugged. “Whatever.”
I didn’t care anymore.
