Chapter 3

Words really do hurt. It felt like Mom was stabbing at my old wounds, making them bleed all over again. The pain made my whole body tremble.

Charlotte didn't say a word. She stared blankly at Mom's back, a bitter smile on her face.

I knew she'd done everything she could. She was the one who gave me the last bit of warmth before I died.

I was badly hurt that day because I was right in the middle when the nuclear power plant exploded.

Mom panicked, grabbed a hazmat suit, and quickly put it on Olivia. Only then did she finally look at me.

She was a staff member, so she was already wearing a protective suit. I was trying to save myself, but Mom slapped me hard across the face and snatched the suit out of my arms.

"Who told you to come here? You selfish brat, always thinking about yourself," she shouted.

I struggled to breathe, reaching out to Mom, pleading with her to stop.

But Mom didn't spare me a glance. She kept putting the hazmat suit on Olivia.

I clung desperately to the edge of the suit, begging her desperately. "Mom, I'll die without this."

Mom let out a cold laugh and kicked me hard, sending me sprawling to the ground. "Is this really the time to fight for attention? Look at you, built like a tank. A bit of radiation won't scratch you.

"How many times do I have to tell you? Olivia's been weak since she was little. She needs two hazmat suits to stay safe. As her sister, you should know how to make sacrifices."

With that, she pulled Olivia into her arms and hurried away.

I was left sprawled on the ground, my body ravaged by radiation, blood and flesh mangled and oozing everywhere.

By the time I got to the hospital, my whole body was rotting away. I was barely recognizable, and the slightest movement sent waves of agony through me.

Charlotte spent hours with me, giving me shot after shot of painkillers to keep me alive for two more days.

Even as I was dying, Charlotte stroked my cheek, not caring how dirty it was.

Her tears fell onto my chest as she said, "Don't let someone like her be your mom if you get a second chance."

She was right, but I never had a choice.

I loved my mom. All those years she favored Olivia and kept hitting me, it never really bothered me.

But now that I was gone, she kept digging up my past and kicking me when I'm already down. It broke my heart.

I followed closely behind Mom. She never mentioned me, nor did she care about what I thought.

Olivia quietly packed up her things, and Mom asked her in a fawning tone, "You've been through a lot lately, Olivia. What do you want to eat? I'll make anything you want."

Olivia's lips quivered as she spoke, looking pitiful and aggrieved. "Mom, what about Emma? Maybe make something she likes, to help her get better. I took her hazmat suit, so it's only right if she's upset with me."

She kept bringing it up, and Mom cut her off, losing her patience, "You always put her first whenever there's something good, but that brat is always picking fights with you.

"She's not coming back. She can die wherever she wants for all I care. I'm only cooking for you, Olivia."

Olivia's sadness disappeared in a flash, replaced by excitement. She hugged Mom, saying all sorts of sweet things to please her, and remembered to speak up for me at the end. "Mom, you're so happy now. Can't you forgive Emma?"

Mom went along with it, but I knew that once Mom started comparing us, the distance between us would only grow.

In Mom's eyes, I was nothing but a heartless, uncouth wretch, while Olivia was filial, obedient, always doing what she was told. Of course, Mom doted on her more.

People always chased after what was beautiful, but Mom never realized that with a couple of sugar-coated words, she swept all my sacrifices under the rug, my whole life, glossed over, and somehow, it all ended up being my fault.