- 5.
L
Mom keeps asking me to her birthday party.
I say yes, because last time it was the day
Bethany was announced as the real daughter.
I tell Mom, “After this party, I want you guys
to leave me alone.”
Mom looks shocked, didn’t expect me to be
so cold, “I raised you for eighteen years, how
can you be so heartless?”
“Are you sure I’m the heartless one?”
Last time, I wasn’t invited to her party, Mike
and Bethany locked me in the basement,
because I might mess up Bethany’s big
moment.
Whatever happens, I know they’re going to be
talking about me.
Seeing how the Millers are treating me,
everyone who used to suck up to me is
avoiding me.
Fine by me, I like the peace and quiet.
Still, seeing them all happy together, it makes
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me angry.
I remember being locked in the basement,
totally alone, and I can’t help but hate them.
They don’t know Bethany threw a cage of
mice in the basement with me.
Said I was lonely, so she brought me some
friends and said I should thank her.
“Abby!” Bethany runs over, wearing a pink
dress, total opposite of when I first met her.
Mike follows her over.
Bethany tugs on Mike’s sleeve, telling him to
say hi to me.
Mike doesn’t want to, but he does it anyway,
says, “Hey.”
“Hi,” I say, then head for the bar.
“Take it easy on the drinks, so you can get
home. I live here, so I can just go home and
rest.”
I glare at her, she’s trying to start something.
She wants to make me mad but I’m not
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falling for it.
“If I get too drunk, would you mind if I
crashed here?
She tenses up, then smiles and says, “Of
course not, Mom wants you to come home.”
“Then I’m going to drink,” I say with a smile.
I can play the sweet game too, and it
obviously makes her nervous.
She must be stressed, every second of every
day, afraid she’ll get caught.
That’s why she wants me gone.
My other brother, Joe, comes over, “What’s
going on?”
Last time, he was the only one who wasn’t
mean to me, and he even tried to protect me,
but he couldn’t. He’s an actor, always
working, and isn’t close with the family.
He told me to leave the Millers and live my
own life, but I didn’t listen.
I almost ruined his career, I still feel bad
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about that.
I didn’t expect to see him here.
Seeing him, I relax a little, “Joe.”
“Long time no see,” he smiles, it makes me
feel better.
Bethany sees me and Joe talking, and gets
annoyed, pouts, “Joe, why didn’t you say hi to
me?”
“I said hi when I got home.”
Joe isn’t going to baby her.
Bethany looks to Mike, she wants him to back
her up.
“Don’t forget, Bethany is our real sister.”
I laugh, and Mike snaps, “What are you laughing at?”
I shrug, “Nothing, I just felt like laughing.”
When it’s time to cut the cake, Mom gives
Bethany the second piece, and Bethany hands
it to me, “Abby, you can have this piece.”
I don’t take it, she wants to make me look
bad.
Mike says, his voice cold, “What are you
waiting for?”
