Thoughts are long and echoless
Chapter 1
My family, they were tripping over themselves
trying to make up for what they called “True
Daughter” syndrome. They even cooked up
some fake medical records, telling the world I
was seriously ill.
All this to hand over everything that was
rightfully mine to her. I just took it, kept my
mouth shut.
At the press conference, my dad announced my “illness,” and I suddenly coughed up blood. Talk
about dramatic.
Afterward, they were all patting me on the
head, saying how understanding I was. Even Holden, who’d been giving me the cold shoulder for weeks, actually spoke to me.
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“See, that’s the right attitude. Sierra was out in
the cold for years, and you got to enjoy her
privileges. It’s only right you help us make it up
to her.”
I just managed a weak smile.
What he didn’t know was, I was actually sick.
And I really was about to check out.
- 1.
Before I went, I wanted to meet my real
parents.
According to Sierra, they were these total
deadbeat, sexist parents who bailed on her,
leaving her to rot in an orphanage so they could
go off and live the good life.
Me? I’m from Missouri, gotta see it to believe it.
So I got someone to look into finding them
<
So I got someone to look into finding them.
Sierra found out and freaked, smashing my
phone.
She was all tears and snot, her nose red.
“You’re trying to dredge up the people who hurt
me? Are you deliberately trying to make me
miserable? How can you be so selfish?”
I wanted to argue, but my insides were twisting,
and all I could manage was a sad smile.
She got her happy family reunion. What about
mine?
I was dying. Couldn’t I even get this one thing?
I just about managed to lift my eyelids and look
at her. “I’ve given back everything. This is all I
ask.”
Before the words were even out of my mouth,
く
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she slapped me hard across the face.
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“You’re unbelievable! You don’t get to make
demands! You were Miss for twenty-
three years. Because of you, I was out there
suffering, getting bullied. Because of you, I
missed out on twenty–three years of mom and
dad! That stuff was mine to begin with, you
giving it back is the least you can do. You can
never repay what you owe me!”
The slap made my head ring, and I could barely
hear her. Even my vision was blurring.
Was this it? Was I actually going to die right
here?
