6
My room was right next to the attic, casually
cleaned up by the family after I came back. It
was less than 100 square feet.
Next to it was Brittany’s room for her plush
toys, and next to that was her room for
dresses and accessories…
I wiped away the tears and found my diary:
[Mom and Dad don’t seem to like me, but I
understand. It’s hard to adjust when there’s
suddenly another child! As long as I’m
obedient, they’ll accept me]
[Mom and Dad took Brittany and Lucas on a
trip. I wonder if they forgot and left me at
home]
[Brittany got third place, and the family is
celebrating for her, but… I got first place, why
isn’t anyone congratulating me?]
[It turns out that no matter how well I do, they
won’t care about me. I see teachers and
parents disciplining bad kids every day. If I
become a bad kid, will Mom and Dad
discipline me too?]
[They said I’m just like someone raised by a
nanny… but I’ve become like this entirely
because of them, haven’t I!]
く
[Lucas said that Mom and Dad have prepared
a surprise for me today, because it’s my
eighteenth birthday? I’m so happy!]
Turning through the pages of the diary, a
teardrop fell on the last page.
I wiped away the tears and wrote on the
newest page:
[Admitting that parents don’t love you as
much as you’d hoped is the first step in
growing up]
Celebrations seemed to be starting again
downstairs, with laughter and music rising
and falling.
I put on my headphones and sent a message
<
to my teacher:
[Mr. Henderson, can I apply for that Hope
Foundation scholarship?]
The teacher replied quickly:
[Of course! You’ve made up your mind? Your
grades will definitely pass the assessment]
I hesitated: [If I pass, will they really pay for
all the expenses abroad?]
[Yes, and you’ll get a large bonus yourself]
I was excited: [I’m signing up, Mr.
Henderson!]
Rather than staying in a home that would
never truly accept me, I’d rather go out and
Г
make my own way.
