Chapter 1
After the Pain Transfer System was legalized, I took my parents' cancer onto myself.
When my mother returned from her trip around the world, she was sulking, her lips pursed in a pout.
"You always play the long game, don't you?" she muttered. "You took the sickness for the praise and drove Claire away."
Claire, my younger sister.
She vanished the day the system launched.
For a moment, I just stood there, my smile dying on my lips.
My mother grew more animated as she spoke. "You rushed to bind yourself to us before Claire even had a chance, didn't you? Just to brand her as the bad daughter."
"These years have been hard on you, I get it," she went on, "but let's be honest, you brought it on yourself. You're nothing like your sister. You had to make sure we felt every ounce of your sacrifice."
A chill shot through me. I couldn't believe what I was hearing.
Just then, the System's voice echoed in my ear.
"End the Pain Transfer?"
*****
My mother's face lit up with delight.
"It can be undone? Yes. I agree." she exclaimed. "If I'd known binding the system meant losing Claire, I would never have consented."
My father silent until now, sprang up from the couch. They embraced, tears streaming down their faces.
"All these years, the guilt kept Claire away," my father cried, his voice thick with emotion. "Now we can finally be a family again."
As if afraid the System might change its mind, they began hurling their grievances at me, their words tumbling over each other.
"Audrey bound the system without even asking us. She just wanted to play the devoted daughter."
"Exactly. She used Claire to make herself look better. So manipulative."
"And that constant gloomy face. Always complaining about the pain, always nauseous, making us feel like we owed her some huge debt."
"What good is a healthy body if we can't have Claire's laughter in our home?"
On and on they went, a torrent of long-held resentment.
No one noticed my face growing pale, my body beginning to tremble uncontrollably.
Three years ago, the government introduced the Pain Transfer System.
Both my father and my mother had early-stage cancer. The pain was so severe that they'd weep in our tiny apartment.
My mother had sighed in front of me more than once. "It's true what they say about age. A little illness like this wouldn't bother you young folks, but it's killing me."
My heart broke for them. I tried to find Claire, to discuss it with her, but she was gone.
Her place was empty. When I asked my parents, they just hemmed and hawed, offering no explanation.
In the end, I had no choice. I bound both their illnesses to myself.
For three years, I've lived with a pain that gnaws at my bones. Endless chemotherapy appointments, forcing myself to work through the exhaustion.
Countless sleepless nights, days where the mere thought of food made me sick. Clumps of hair fell out in the shower.
But seeing them grow stronger and hearing them talk excitedly about their travels made it feel worthwhile.
Today, that illusion shattered.
The System's cold, mechanical voice prompted again. "Audrey Grant. Do you consent to system termination?"
A wave of dizziness hit me, the nausea and hunger from a day without food or water closing in.
My mother began pleading with me, her voice dripping with false concern. "Audrey, you've already built your image as the devoted daughter. You've enjoyed all the praise for three years. Why be so selfish now? Why keep Claire away from us?"
"You only bore some physical pain," she continued, "But we lost Claire for three whole years. Do you have any idea what I've been through?"
No, I didn't understand.
In those three years of regained health, they hadn't worried about their bodies at all.
My mother danced with her friends every day and went shopping.
My father took walks, played chess, and became the picture of health among his friends.
They went wherever they wanted, while I had to give up the sports and hobbies I loved.
I thought I had sacrificed so much for this family. To them, it was just... selfishness.
Then my father's voice cut in, sharp with blame.