My Death Is Their Final Peace

Synopsis

My parents were a couple brought together by nothing but spite. Back when they were young, they both got dumped by their own beloved one, so their families set them up for a rushed, arranged marriage, and that was how they ended up together. They did love each other, but neither would ever say it out loud. So instead, they took it all out on me. Mom would say, "Your eyes are so small. Just like your dad's." Dad would say, "You're so clumsy. Just as dumb as your mom." They'd spot each other's flaws in me, and then lash out at one another through me. Then, Dad's old flame got divorced, and Mom's old flame came back. They finally stopped fighting and started fawning over their old flames' kids, doing everything they could to win them over. When I was seven, I burned up with a fever so badly that I started convulsing. But my parents were both obsessed with picking out Christmas presents for their old flames' kids. Not one of them bothered to take me to the hospital. I licked my cracked lips, pleading weakly, but Mom just gave me a frosty stare. "Quit faking it. You just got a little chill yesterday. Don't act like you're on death's door. Those lousy genes of yours are just like your dad's." Dad, furious, smashed his glass. "Lousy genes? Weren't you the one who jumped into my bed and insisted we have a kid? I never even wanted this kid." Their shouting kept going, while I lay on my little bed, feverish and barely hanging on. After that, everything finally fell silent. This time, there was nothing left for them to fight about.