Mountains and Seas
After I died, my sister’s wedding went on as
planned.
She wore her white dress and married my
boyfriend.
My mom called me over and over, getting
angrier with each unanswered ring.
She called me an ungrateful brat.
My little brother texted, accusing me, “Are
you seriously still holding a grudge over
something that happened two years ago?”
My dad. usually quiet, said coldly. “Tell her if
く
My dad, usually quiet, said coldly, “Tell her if
she doesn’t come home today, we’ll consider
her dead to us.”
They didn’t actually want me there.
They just wanted my sister’s wedding to be
perfect, complete with my blessing.
But I was already dead.
1
I knew from a young age that I wasn’t loved
in my family.
L
Mom came back from a business trip with
two new toys one for Zach and one for
Chloe.
She was about to leave when I stopped her,
quietly reminding her, “Mom, what about
me?” She frowned.
“You want one too?” she said impatiently.
“They were expensive. I don’t have enough
money left for yours.” I was only five, but I
could already sense her annoyance. Even
more so because she was my own mother.
Now, at Chloe’s wedding, Mom finished
<
chatting with some relatives, walked to a
corner, and started dialing my number again
and again.
No one answered. On the third try, the call
went straight to voicemail.
She looked shocked, like someone was
choking her. “Ashley! It’s your mother!”
Zach came over and patted her back. “Mom,
don’t get upset. It’s not worth it. You know
how she is.”
Mom’s anger and frustration finally found an
outlet with her beloved youngest son.
<
“Out of all three of you, I put the most effort
into Ashley. When she was born, she was a
twin, and even the doctor said she survived
by taking nutrients from her brother…”
I’d heard her repeat this story countless times
growing up. It always ended with me being
punished, locked in my room, watching them
go out for a
the perfect family of four
fun day.
“Mom, don’t be angry. Don’t worry, even if I
have to drag her here, I will.” Zach reassured
her, then turned and sent me a barrage of
texts.
“Ashley, you better show up within the hour.”
く
“How can you be so selfish? You know Mom
has a heart condition.”
“Is a guy really worth holding a grudge over
for this long? Besides, Chloe’s your sister,
too.”
He paused after typing that last message,
then put his phone away and went to help
greet the guests.
Yeah, even he didn’t believe that.
Chloe was his perfect sister, my parents‘
perfect daughter.
How could she be my sister?
