At three, sweeping, washing dishes, all the
housework.
At four, standing on a stool to cook meals for
the entire family.
At five, carrying Sarah’s backpack to school,
jumping in to defend her from bullies.
Because my mom had said, “Your sister is
<
7
sick. You have to protect her. Even if it
means your life, you have to stop anyone
33
from hurting her.”
?
So, I often ended up bruised and battered.
My only saving grace was my photographic memory. Even if I only paid attention in class
for a few minutes, I could still ace the tests.
Sarah was jealous. She forbade me from
attending a better school, forcing me to go to
the same mediocre one as her.
Even then, I still tested into a top–tier
university.
<
But they threatened me, and I ended up at a
local third–rate college.
After graduation, I still had to give them two
or three thousand dollars every month.
If it weren’t for them, my life could have been
so different.
I’d paid my dues. Over and over again.
My life was my own now. I wouldn’t give them
another piece of it.
At the end of the video, I said, “Don’t doubt
my memory. My greatest strength is my
ability to recall everything perfectly. Ask any
く
of my classmates or friends.”
I even remembered being in my mother’s
womb, the endless boredom, playing with my
umbilical cord.
Soon after posting, Jessica called.
I wouldn’t answer calls from any other
relatives, but Jessica was different. She was
the only one who had ever been good to me.
“Emily, it’s your dad. Delete that video right
now.
“If you don’t, I’ll have your cousin Michael sell
your cousin Jessica. I know you two are
く
your cousin Jessica. I know you two are
close.”
“Are you really willing to ruin your cousin’s
life just to be internet famous?”
“You did all those things willingly! We only
had to praise you a little, and you’d jump to
do whatever we wanted. Who are you
blaming?”
Honestly, I wasn’t afraid to delete the video. It
had already been shared widely.
I could always create new accounts and
repost it if I had to.
く
I didn’t agree to his demands immediately.
“Put Jessica on the phone. I need to make
sure she’s safe.‘
35
He grunted. “Wait.
A moment later, Jessica’s voice came on the
line. “Emily, I’m okay. Just…sad.”
“I always thought they loved me.”
