Chapter 2

After sending the text, I put my phone away and immersed myself in nature.

So this was what truly vast forests looked like. The sky could be this blue.

I suddenly wondered why I'd spent so long trapping myself in a tiny world, fighting with a weirdo who faked illnesses for scraps of my parents' attention.

All that time and energy spent fighting for their notice was a colossal waste.

My life should be spent traveling, buried in libraries. The world was full of amazing things waiting for me to discover.

Thinking this, I stopped feeling sad. Instead, I started observing every plant and tree along the way.

It wasn't until lunchtime, back at the hotel, that I noticed over ten missed calls on my phone.

Split evenly between Mom and Dad.

One was from Cora herself.

I didn't rush to call back. Instead, I checked my messages.

As expected, Mom was blaming, and Dad was comparing me to Cora.

Mom: [Why would you say that about Cora? She's your sister.]

Dad: [Stop acting like a child competing for attention. We're your real parents, isn't that enough? When will you learn to be as sensible as Cora? I'm so disappointed in you.]

Scrolling down, I saw a message from Cora.

Cora: [Autumn, I'm really sorry. It's all my fault for being sick. They were just worried about me. Please don't be mad at me, okay?]

I pursed my lips, feeling indifferent, and replied to all three.

Me: [I'm not mad. Stop overthinking it. I'll come back when I'm done traveling.]

Soon after, another bank transfer alert came.

Followed by a text from Mom.

Mom: [Then relax and have a good time. Mom was a bit harsh earlier.]

They'd always been like this.

Every time they gave me a hard time over Cora, they'd send me some spending money right after.

That was their way of making peace.

I knew Mom was waiting for me to write a long, groveling reply, anxiously explaining I wasn't angry with them, and then apologizing for my own "mistakes."

But I didn't reply at all.

I figured, once college started, I wouldn't really get the chance to go out and enjoy myself like this anymore.

I wanted to see all the places I desired, and I'd enjoy them thoroughly by myself.

I returned home a month later. Pushing the front door open, I saw Mom serving fruit to Cora.

Seeing me suddenly appear, their faces were a picture.

Cora pouted unhappily, but Mom looked somewhat surprised.

She casually put the fruit down, hurried over, and reached to tuck a stray hair behind my ear.

Mom said, "Autumn, you've gotten so tanned."

I gave a polite smile. "Probably from visiting too many places. Didn't put on sunscreen properly."

As I spoke, the living room fell silent.

Mom walked awkwardly into the kitchen.

She said, "Don't touch your sister's fruit, okay? Your dad went through a lot of trouble getting those specially for her. I'll wash a different plate for you."

I paused by the door, then shrugged and bent down to change my shoes.

I said, "Don't bother. I'm not hungry."

Mom suddenly came out of the kitchen, her face dark.

She said, "Autumn, don't start picking fights with your sister the moment you get back. She's not well, you should let her have her way."

I looked at Cora, confused. She gave me a triumphant smile.

Then I understood.

They'd misinterpreted my words again.

I smiled dismissively.

I replied, "I said I don't want any because I couldn't get a flight back. I was on a train for over ten hours. So I'm exhausted, not hungry. I just want to rest. Don't misunderstand."

With that, I headed straight to my room with my luggage.

Mom, unusually, grabbed my arm. Her face showed a hint of apology I'd never seen before.

She said, "Autumn, don't misunderstand. Mom didn't know."

Yeah, I'd been on my own for a month, and she'd never once asked how I was doing.

So, her not knowing where I'd been or when I was returning made perfect sense.

With that thought, I just gave a perfunctory nod.

"It's fine, I'm just going to my room," I said.

I tried to leave, but Mom didn't let go, gripping tighter.

She said, "Autumn, when you're rested, tell Mom all about where you went."

I was dead tired. Muttering an "okay," I opened my bedroom door.

But the scene before me jolted my weary brain awake.

My book collection was strewn across the floor. Cora's dirty clothes were thrown over my clothes rack. Even my stuffed bear was slashed to pieces.

Mom, following behind me, saw the mess and seemed about to say something.

But before she could, Cora, who'd been lounging on the sofa, suddenly clutched her chest and collapsed.

Mom shot me a furious glare, rushed to Cora's side, helped her up, and dialed for an ambulance.

While waiting, Mom snapped at me angrily.

She said, "Why do you always bully your sister the second you're back? Autumn, what do you want from me? What will make you satisfied?"

I didn't rush to defend myself frantically like I used to. I just looked calmly at her rage.

I said, "Since I walked in, I've only said a few words. Cora destroyed my room, but I haven't even looked at her. Tell me, what exactly did I do wrong?"

Mom was speechless, stunned into silence.

Just then, Cora, who had her eyes tightly shut, suddenly opened them and tugged Mom's sleeve.

She said, "Mom, I'm scared Autumn is angry. I'm scared she hates me."

Hearing this, Mom's face hardened again.

She said, "If anything happens to Cora, you'll be the one to answer for it."

I nodded casually.

"Fine," I replied.

I knew Cora was faking it.

She just couldn't stand my parents' attention being on me for even a second.

But she didn't know, and I didn't care anymore.

If she loved faking illnesses so much, let her.

With them gone, I could finally get some peace and quiet.