Chapter 5
The moment she saw me, Mom rushed forward, arms outstretched like she was about to sweep me into some tearful reunion.
I took a step back. Then another.
She froze, her hands hovering awkwardly in the air.
Her smile faltered, and for a moment, she looked genuinely hurt.
But she quickly masked it, smoothing out her expression.
Dad appeared a second later, followed by Grandpa and Grandma.
hey all sat across from me in the living room, their faces tense, like they were bracing for impact.
folded my arms and leaned back.
All right. Say what you need to say.”
Iom’s hands twisted nervously in her lap.
Emma, we… we’re sorry. This is our fault. When you were born, you were such a beautiful baby. So healthy, so perfect.”
he paused, glancing at Dad for support.
Then he didn’t jump in, she continued.
But then your grandma brought in… someone.”
He said-he said you were destined to clash with your brother. That you’d ruin his future.”
ly eyebrows shot up.
lash? Ruin? What does that even mean?”
ad cleared his throat.
imma, it was a… spiritual thing. A prediction.”
And, well, the tradition in our family has always been for the son to inherit the family business. We didn’t know what to do, so…”
o you decided I was the expendable one,” I finished for him.
fom winced but nodded.
At first, we thought about sending you away, but I just couldn’t do it.”
So we decided…. if we raised you to expect less, you’d grow up without wanting what Jason had. Without fighting him for it.”
stared at her, my chest tightening,
Let me get this straight.”
You made me feel like a burden my entire life-starved me of every opportunity-just so Jason wouldn’t have to share?“
‘And now what? You feel bad because I turned out better than you expected?”
‘Emma, no, it’s not like that,” Mom stammered.
‘Oh, it’s exactly like that,” I snapped, my voice cutting through the tension in the room.
“You didn’t expect me to succeed. You didn’t expect me to work with people like Professor Collins or contribute to groundbreaking projects.”
“And now that I’m useful, you’re here to grovel and hope I’ll forget everything?”
Chapter 5
Mom opened her mouth, but no words came out.
Dad stepped in, his tone defensive.
“Emma, we weren’t trying to hurt you. Don’t forget-when you were six and had that terrible fever, I carried you to the hospital myself.”
“It was pouring rain, and I slipped and fell, but I didn’t stop.”
I let out a bitter laugh.
“Yeah, because calling a cab would’ve been too easy, right?”
“You dragged me through the rain like some hero, and I ended up with pneumonia.”
“I guess I should be grateful, though-thanks for making my ‘ordinary fever’ ten times worse.”
Dad’s face darkened, but he didn’t respond.
Grandma spoke up next, her voice trembling.
Emma, honey, try to see things from their perspective. They didn’t mean to hurt you.”
‘It’s just… the situation was complicated.”
turned to her, shaking my head.
You think I don’t know that? You think I don’t understand what they’ve done?”
They chose to believe some ridiculous superstition, and because of that, I was thrown away like an afterthought.”
My voice cracked, but I forced myself to keep going.
And you know what’s funny?”
You were so afraid of me ‘ruining’ Jason’s life, but now I’m wondering-why aren’t you worried anymore? What changed?”
he room went silent.
stood up, my heart pounding.
You know what? It doesn’t matter. None of it matters.”
1om grabbed my arm before I could leave.
Emma, please. Don’t go. We can fix this.”
pulled my arm free, stepping out of her reach.
No, you can’t. My flight’s tomorrow. I’ve got interviews lined up, and I’m not wasting any more time here.”
Dad’s voice turned cold.
Emma, can’t we at least try to make things right?”
We didn’t do everything wrong. You’re independent, successful-doesn’t that count for something? Isn’t that because of how we raised you?”
I let out a sharp, humorless laugh.
‘Oh, sure. Let’s give you a round of applause for teaching me how to survive on scraps.”
“You were dining at five-star restaurants while I was eating your leftovers.”
“You had designer clothes, and I got second-hand rags that gave me rashes.”
I stepped closer, my voice rising.
“Do you know what it’s like to go to school and have your classmates call you a dumpster diver?”
Chapter 5
“To be laughed at for wearing someone else’s trash? That’s what you gave me.”
Dad opened his mouth, but I cut him off.
‘All I ever wanted was to be treated like I mattered. Like I was part of this family.”
“But you couldn’t even give me that. So don’t stand there and act like I owe you anything. The only thing I regret is being born into this mess.”
The room fell into stunned silence.
I grabbed my bag and headed for the door.
Mom tried to stop me one last time, her voice cracking.
“Emma, please-
I didn’t turn around.
“We’re done here.”
With that, I walked out, leaving them behind for good.
Lucia Morh is a passionate storyteller who brings emotions to life through her words. When she’s not writing, she finds peace nurturing her garden.