“We weren’t thinking. There aren’t enough
chairs. Get another one so Ashley can sit
down.”
I was pulled to the table under everyone’s
disapproving stares.
“Ashley, you’ve gotten so thin. I haven’t seen
you in a few months.”
117
=
<
“Eat up.”
Everyone looked at me.
Dad studied my face, his expression softening.
He opened his mouth to speak.
Riley suddenly clutched her chest, crying out.
“I don’t feel well… Cough…I don’t feel good…”
Dad, Liam, and Jake crowded around her.
They saw the rash on her skin.
Dad gasped. “She’s having an allergic reaction!
How?”
He glared at me, his eyes like ice.
Then he slapped me with all his might.
“Did you do this? How could I have a daughter
who’s so evil?”
I fell to the floor, my head ringing.
Everyone stared at me with hatred.
It was like they wanted to tear me apart.
Pale, I stammered, “It wasn’t me. I didn’t…”
But, like always, they’d already judged me.
No one listened.
Liam snarled, “You’re disgusting. I can’t believe
you’re my sister.”
“I knew you were up to no good when you
offered to cook. You did this on purpose.”
Jake looked down at me.
He said to Jake’s Mom:
く
“Mom, now you see why I don’t like her.”
“She’s too manipulative. I couldn’t spend my life
with someone like that.”
Jake’s mom started to say something.
Dad grabbed Riley, yelling, “That’s enough. We
can talk later.”
“Let’s get Riley to the hospital.”
They rushed out, surrounding Riley.
I was left lying on the floor, clutching my
swollen face.
I watched them leave, tears streaming down my
face.
See?
It was always like this.
<
Whenever it involved Riley, they never chose to
believe me.
Something inside me died.
The pain was unbearable.
But I knew this was the last time.
I was leaving soon.
I wouldn’t see them again.
I wouldn’t hurt anymore.
- 4.
I went back to my room and started packing.
I realized I didn’t have much.
Since Riley came, Dad and Liam rarely bought
me anything
<
me anything.
They barely gave me an allowance.
I hadn’t been home much lately anyway.
It was better this way. I wouldn’t have to take
much with me.
My gaze fell on the family photo.
Memories flooded my mind.
After Mom and Dad’s marriage fell apart, she
went overseas alone.
Then, news came that Mom had remarried.
Dad cried all night.
He told Liam and me that he didn’t know how
to be a good husband.
<
He lost Mom.
He promised to be a good father and raise
Liam and me right.
Liam puffed out his chest and said he’d be a
good brother.
He wouldn’t let me get hurt.
Or I’d grow up and leave like Mom.
They did well for a while.
I was sick a lot as a child.
Dad would drop everything, no matter how busy
he was, when Liam said I had a fever.
When I was twelve, I was bullied in school. They
locked me in the bathroom.
Fifteen–year–old Liam stormed into the
classroom and fought five kids at once.
67
Even though he was beaten, he wouldn’t let go
of the one who started it.
He scared him half to death.
After that, everyone knew Ashley had a crazy
brother.
Don’t mess with her.
Jake was great too.
When Dad wasn’t around, he’d take Liam and
me home to eat with his family.
We felt bad after a while.
He’d look at me, his eyes shining, reflecting my
own image: “What’s there to feel bad about?
You can eat here forever if you want.”
<
I looked into his eyes.
I started to believe it.
So, when Dad asked me if I wanted to marry
Jake on my 18th birthday, I said yes without
hesitation.
I dreamed of a happy future.
I even thought I wouldn’t have to move because
my love was right next door.
But the next day, Dad brought home his friend’s
orphan.
Everything changed.
She always found a way to interrupt when I was
with Liam or Jake.
She broke my things.
<
7:34
67
Then she’d hold up her injured hand and say I did it.
She poured the milk Liam gave her on herself
and cried, “Ashley, I don’t blame you. I know it was an accident.”
She cut up the clothes Dad bought for her.
Then she said, “Ashley, I’m sorry. Please don’t do this to me. I won’t steal your things.”
She covered herself in trash, cut herself with a knife, and ran to Jake.
Crying, she said, “Jake, please tell her to stop. I can’t take it anymore.
I’m going to leave. I’ll leave, really, but tell her to
tell her friends to stop hurting me.”
I snapped and finally lost it.
Г
7:34
67
But the family that had always stood behind me now stood in front of her.
“Ashley, I’m so disappointed in you. How could I
raise such a daughter?”
Liam slapped me hard.
“You’re disgusting. Have you forgotten how you were bullied?”
“Now you’re doing the same thing to Riley? Get out!”
Jake held Riley, his eyes now looking at
someone else.
“Ashley, I never thought you were this kind of person.”
“We need to reconsider the marriage.”
Thou ignorad mununlanationa
<
They ignored my explanations.
They took Riley to the hospital, just like today.
After that, there was no place for me in that
house.
- 5.
It was late when I finally finished packing.
I didn’t have much.
I only had one small suitcase.
I put the rest of my things in boxes in the
corner.
I’d leave a note for the housekeeper and ask.
her to take it to the dump.
I dragged my suitcase downstairs.
7:34
I saw Dad and the others come back with Riley.
I stood in the shadows. They didn’t see me.
They were talking to themselves.
“Luckily, she didn’t eat much, so the allergic
reaction wasn’t too bad.”
“Ashley is awful. She has to apologize to Riley.”
Riley said quietly, “No, she didn’t mean to.”
Liam said coldly, “You’re too nice. She needs
to be punished.”
“You know, you’ve always wanted her room,
right?”
“Let her give it to you as compensation.”
Dad frowned, about to say something.
Г
Riley said eagerly, “Really? Her room has a big
balcony. I’ve always wanted it.”
Dad relaxed.
He didn’t say anything.
My eyes stung. What was I expecting?
No one cared about me.
I stepped out of the shadows and said to Riley,
“Since you like my room so much, you can have
it.”
She was so happy.
Riley couldn’t stop smiling when she saw my
suitcase.
Liam frowned.
୮
