Chapter Three
Sarah’s makeup was flawless.
It was the bridal look I had chosen with my ex–boyfriend, Matt, during one of our shopping trips.
There she sat, wearing the makeup I had picked, on the bed that should have been mine, waiting eagerly for Matt.
The entire wedding reception setup–it was exactly how Matt and I had planned it.
We aimed to innovate upon the best traditional customs while eliminating the vulgar and outdated practices. We’d even arranged for a pair of bridesmaids and groomsmen to guide the proceedings and prevent any awkward moments.
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Hovering above them, I watched as they laughed and celebrated, oblivious to my presence.
My mother, father, and brother had seemingly forgotten about me entirely; all they could see was Sarah.
My brother Allen carefully and gently lifted Sarah onto the wedding car, her face glowing with a shy smile.
My ex–boyfriend, Matt–the groom today- was all smiles, his face brimming with joy.
I hovered behind my parents, watching as they stood by, their eyes lingering on Sarah as she drove away in the wedding car, tears falling from their eyes.
If I were the one getting married, Mom and
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Dad, would you cry for me like this?
I couldn’t cry, only sniffle quietly.
I was already dead, there’s no way for me to get married or verify it anymore.
Allen took out his phone, glancing at the empty message screen, his brows furrowing so tightly he could have squashed a fly between them.
“What exactly is Kelly up to? It’s getting late, and she’s still not here? The wedding’s about to start! Once today is over, I’m definitely giving her a piece of my mind!”
Mom let out a disdainful snort. “She just can’t stand to see Sarah happy. She’s been like this since she was little. I don’t know how I ended up with such an ungrateful daughter!”
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Dad, as usual, pulled a cigarette from his pocket, lighting it and blowing out rings of smoke.
Mom, you were wrong.
I understood gratitude very well.
In middle school, Sarah and I ended up in the same class.
Back then, I was naive. Even though I sensed the shift in my parents and brother’s affections, I never held it against anyone.
I looked after Sarah clumsily every day, simply because Mom told me I was the older sister and needed to take care of her.
Though, in reality, I was only half a year older than her.
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Until that day, when I hadn’t yet reached the bathroom, I overheard a conversation coming from inside.
“Sarah, I heard you and Kelly are sisters?”
I couldn’t see Sarah’s face, but her soft, hesitant voice made it easy to picture her sad expression.
It was the same look she always had whenever I did something that bothered her.
“My situation… you know all about it. I’m so grateful to Kelly and Uncle and Auntie. But… it seems that Kelly doesn’t really like me…”
“Why wouldn’t she like you? You’re so kind! Maybe she thinks you’re an easy target and just wants to stand out?”
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“No… I don’t know. It’s just that whenever I talk to Kelly, she barely responds. Maybe she’s afraid I’ll take Uncle and Auntie’s love away from her, so she doesn’t welcome me.”
In that moment, it felt like the blood in my veins had turned cold.
Oh, God. I had never ignored her, not even
once.
Whenever I got a new toy, I would rush to share it with her. Even my favorite chicken drumstick–after Mom scolded me that time -I willingly placed it into her bowl.
Wasn’t she the one who ignored me?
Back then, I didn’t know how to keep my emotions hidden. All I wanted was to confront Sarah, to ask her why she said those things about me to others.
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But all I got in return were shoves from her friends and strange looks from my classmates.
Even when I walked alone, there were times when someone would push me to the ground or dunk my head in the water fountain.
Whether it was being locked in the bathroom, my desk smeared with filth, or enduring slap after slap from a group of kids–each incident tore at me.
I thought about asking for help. The first person I turned to was my brother.
But he only looked at me with suspicion, as if I were some unforgivable liar.
The brother who once promised to protect me for a lifetime abandoned me because of
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Sarah’s words.
I didn’t dare ask anyone else. I’d rather endure this inhuman torment than see the look of disappointment in my family’s eyes.
That was a very painful memory and the direct cause of my mental distress.
Chapter Four
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Chapter Four
