Chapter 2
I remember every detail of that summer ten years ago.
That year, I got a good score on the final exam.
I ranked third in my school and eleventh in the city.
And I applied to the clinical medicine program at Emberwell Medical University.
The admission letter arrived in late July. It was a large, dark brown envelope with gold embossed lettering.
I didn't open it because I was busy working at the local coffee shop that morning.
When I got home that evening, the living room lights were on.
Gordon, Fiona, and my sister Rhea Kingsley were sitting at the dining table.
The envelope was opened and set on the table.
I froze. "You opened it?" I asked.
Fiona didn't meet my eyes.
Gordon was smoking, his hand shaking.
Rhea lowered her head and twisted her fingers around the corners of her clothes.
"Mom, what's going on?" I asked.
Fiona finally looked up at me, her gaze complicated.
I'd never forget what she said that night.
"Tessa, you're smart. You'll do well wherever you go. But Rhea... she's not like you. She'll be finished if leaving university."
I was confused.
"What do you mean?" I asked.
"You know how bad Rhea did on the exam. There isn't a single school that'll take her," Fiona said as she got up, shoved the envelope at me, and continued, "You two are twins. You look exactly the same. If Rhea takes your admission letter and goes to register, nobody will notice."
Hearing her words, a loud buzzing filled my head.
"What? You want her to replace me?" I asked.
"What do you mean by replace? You're sisters! What's wrong with helping your sister out?" Fiona's voice rose. "You can just retake the exam next year. You're so smart. You'll probably do even better if you try again..."
"Why should I?" I said.
My voice trembled, my nails digging into my palms.
"I worked hard for every single point. I wrote every answer myself. Why should she get it for nothing?" I asked.
"Keep your voice down!" Fiona slammed her hand on the table. "Do you even realize what kind of situation we're in? Gordon barely makes a little over 1,000 dollars a month. How are we supposed to afford two kids in college? Rhea can't even find a husband. You're better than her. And you should just give way to her!"
I turned my gaze to Rhea.
She kept her head down, never saying a word.
Then I turned to Gordon.
Gordon stubbed out his cigarette. But he hadn't said a word from start to finish.
That night, I locked myself in my room and called the police, asking for help.
They told me it was a family matter and suggested I try to negotiate it with my parents.
Then I called the government office.
It was on the weekend, so no one picked up.
I tried calling Emberwell Medical University's office, but the line was busy.
At two o'clock in the morning, I looked out my window and saw a van parked in the yard.
Rhea had already loaded her suitcase inside.
Fiona was stuffing bedding into the back of the van.
I ran out to stop them.
Fiona pushed me aside, and I fell hard. My knee smashed against the concrete steps, tearing the skin.
Fiona pointed at me and said, "Tessa, if you dare report this matter, I'll make sure you see me die."
The van left at three o'clock in the morning.
Its headlights disappeared at the end of the dirt road at the entrance of the town.
From that moment on, my life was almost crashed.
I never got another chance to take the exam.
It wasn't that I didn't want to.
The truth is, the day before the deadline to register for a retake, Fiona hid my ID card.
By the time I finally found it, the deadline had already passed.
Fiona said, "It's pretty good to start work early. Your cousin can earn more than 1,500 dollars a month in Donwell."
At the end of August, I was put on a bus to Donwell.
Fiona didn't even come to see me off.
She just gave me an envelope before I left, with 200 dollars inside.
"Call home when you arrive," she said.
I got on the bus and took the last row. The window was loosely closed, and the hot air was pouring in.
200 dollars
Eighteen years of raising me, and all I got was 200 dollars for the bus fare. And a mother who didn't even bother to say goodbye.
I didn't cry.
And I didn't cry for a long time after that.
When I got to Donwell, I ended up working at a garment factory.
I had to work twelve hours a day on the production line.
Cutting, hemming, ironing, over and over.
No air conditioning in the workshop. In July, the metal roof made it feel like a steam box.
My first month's wage was 900 dollars. But after deducting rent and meals, I got just 600 dollars.
I saved 400 dollars in my bank account and got by on the last 200 for the month.
Nora called me every week.
She said, "Tessa, I'm working on it. I went to the government office to ask for help.
"Tessa, Fiona didn't want me to go, but I ignored her.
"Tessa, I've saved up some money for you. When you come back, you can try the exam again."
On Wednesday, September 17th.