Chapter 3

Just like my adoptive parents did before.

I guess I'll just hang myself, too.

My adoptive parents were both paranoid and totally neurotic.

Ever since I can remember, they'd go on about hanging themselves over the tiniest argument.

One time, I just blurted out that our neighbor, Susan, looked really good.

My adoptive mom went straight for the rope, ready to hang herself. She said, "Sophie, after all I've done for you, you ungrateful brat. Fine, when I'm dead, you can go live with Susan."

I was bawling, begging her on my knees, but she just kicked me aside and shot me a cold, heartless glare.

It was only when my adoptive dad burst in that he managed to stop her.

I was so freaked out that I became hyper-aware, walking on eggshells whenever I spoke.

Meanwhile, my adoptive parents, after that whole ordeal, just held each other tight, acting like they were living happily ever after.

One time, I scored one point shy of perfect on a test, and my adoptive dad grabbed a rope and tied it to the crooked tree out front.

He said, "Raising you was a waste. You useless kid, can't even get a perfect score. I might as well die so I don't have to look at you anymore."

I was bawling, hitting myself until I blacked out from crying so hard.

I was always so careful at home, so why is it never enough?

My adoptive dad didn't end up dying, but he beat me senseless afterward just to make himself feel better.

When I was nine, my adoptive mom found out I'd eaten one extra chicken wing, and she grabbed a rope and hanged herself right at the front door.

She said, "Sophie, you're already this old and still so clueless? I must've messed up raising you. Whatever, maybe it's better if I'm gone.

This time, nobody showed up to stop her. She really did it, right there, in front of my eyes.

Her death was on me. I still can't figure out how I could be so messed up, even as a little kid.

It was all because I was selfish; I just couldn't help myself and had to grab that extra chicken wing.

In utter despair, I grabbed a rope, ready to end it all.

My adoptive dad rushed in, yanked me down from the rope, and then beat me senseless.

"This is all your fault. For someone so young, you're already this messed up. You killed your own mom. You really deserve to die.

"I'm gonna beat you to death.

I was left half-dead, lying there on the floor, barely breathing, and couldn't even lift a finger.

When I finally came to, I saw my adoptive dad pulling out a rope. He said, "Sophie, raising an ungrateful brat like you is my biggest failure as a father. Maybe you'll be happy when I join your mom in death.

"You really are something, you little jinx."

Then he kicked the stool out from under himself and hanged himself.

After the cops came, they shipped me off to an orphanage.

When I left, the only thing I took with me was the rope my adoptive parents always used for hanging.

*****

When Andrew saw me hanging from the rope, he just stood there, completely shell-shocked.

He frowned and asked, "Sophie, what the hell are you doing?"

Mom was trembling, grabbing my legs like her life depended on it.

She said, "Sophie, your brother doesn't hate you, I promise.

"Everyone really likes you, please, just come down, okay?"

But it was already too late.

Dad came running and pulled me down from the rope.

I was so crushed, I just blacked out.

Seeing what happened, Dad lost it and slapped Andrew hard across the face. He said, "You bastard. She's your sister. Are you trying to kill her? Don't you ever mess with her like that again!"

Andrew looked at me, his brows furrowed, his gaze a tangled mess of emotions.