Chapter 1

After I got into Summit University, my parents finally kept their promise and took me on a long-distance trip.

But the next morning, I woke up to find them gone.

The hotel room was empty. They'd left in such a hurry that they didn't even leave a note.

A few hours later, I saw my sister's Instagram post.

It was a group photo of my parents taking her shopping, captioned, [My dearest family, today belongs only to me.]

I was silent for a long moment, then commented, [That's great. They can belong only to you from now on.]

I left it at that, decisive. But my parents, who always seemed annoyed by me, suddenly panicked.

*****

I sat alone in a corner of the hotel, staring blankly at the bustling crowd on the distant beach.

I still couldn't believe my own parents had ditched me at a hotel thousands of miles from home.

It felt so absurd.

After all, I was their real daughter.

My face felt itchy. I wiped it absently and realized they were tears.

My phone buzzed, pulling me from my thoughts.

It was a message from my mom. [What did you mean by that comment? You made your sister cry! Apologize to her now, or we'll never forgive you.]

Then came a message from my dad. [We left because Cora had a heart episode. It was so sudden that we didn't have time to tell you. Don't take it personally.]

I put my phone down. Watching a happy family of three walk by, I suddenly lost the energy to argue.

It was stupid to believe that Cora sensed a heart episode was coming.

I'd always said she was faking it. Too bad no one believed me.

Ever since she came into our family, every single happy moment in my life had been ruined by her using her "heart condition" as an excuse.

No matter how many times I pointed it out, Mom and Dad would always drop everything and run to Cora without a second glance back at me.

I used to hate how they always orbited around her, so I just buried my head in my books.

Now, fresh out of high school, I'd finally used my academic success to bargain for this one trip.

And in just one day, Cora had effortlessly wrecked it again.

Still, my parents wanted me to apologize and just let it go.

I didn't reply. I didn't throw a fit like I used to, begging them to admit they loved me, pleading for them to come back.

I just suddenly wondered if other kids had to constantly fight for their parents' love like this.

I pressed my lips together and thought about it for a few seconds, but I couldn't figure it out.

But my gaze kept wandering back to that family of three on the beach.

The parents each held one of their little girl's hands as they walked along.

The girl looked so tiny, probably just four or five years old.

That was how old I was when Cora showed up at our house.

Back then, my parents would walk with me just like that, each holding one of my hands.

I felt like laughing, but tears uncontrollably streamed down my face instead.

I opened my phone, deleted the comment, and went back to my hotel room alone.

I spent three days at the beach by myself.

I'd always wanted to see the ocean. After my college acceptance came out, when my parents asked what reward I wanted, I immediately said I wanted them to take me to see the sea.

They'd hesitated for a long time before agreeing.

For no other reason than Cora's "delicate health" not being suited for long trips.

After I begged and pleaded, they finally relented.

I'd wanted to take a family photo by the water, write our names in the sand.

Before we left home, I'd even fantasized that if Mom was in a good mood, we could set off some fireworks on the beach at night.

But in all my daydreams, I never imagined it would end like this. I saw the ocean alone.

Three days later, the prepaid hotel stay expired.

Maybe they got a reminder from the hotel, and my parents finally remembered they had another daughter thousands of miles away.

Mom texted. [Having fun? It's fine if you want to stay a few more days. I'll send you money.]

A bank transfer notification followed the message.

Looking at the new balance of twenty thousand dollars, I slowly typed back. [The ocean was beautiful. I've had enough. I'm coming home today.]

A reply came quickly. [Stay a few more days. Because of your comment, Cora's been really upset. She doesn't want to see you right now.]

Those two simple lines felt like a physical blow.

I thought nothing could hurt more than waking up to find my parents had vanished without a word.

I was wrong. Something could.

I checked out anyway. I made my own travel plans and went to several different places alone.

I traveled for a week. Finally, my parents' adopted daughter, Cora, calmed down. My parents were finally willing to let me come home.

Dad put it like this, [Cora has forgiven you. When you get back, be careful not to upset her again.]

By then, I was already up north, looking at the vast, towering forests. My mind felt incredibly clear.

I wasn't angry. I didn't argue. I quickly typed back. [I'll come back in a few days. Wouldn't want to upset her delicate heart again.]