Everett finally found time in his perfect little life to defend his precious sister. My parents stood behind him, cheering him on like they were rooting for some kind of prize fighter. They had completely forgotten that Erica was the daughter of their sworn enemy—the same person who tried to ruin the DuPont Family name and swapped us out when we were babies.
“What now? You lost your voice? Felling pain from your stomach cancer?” Everett taunted, his tone dripping with sarcasm. “Do you really think that I’m gonna buy it? We all know that you are an outstanding faker. Since you came back, all you’ve done is harming Erica. Now, get up and apologize to her!”
Before I could say a word, Erica was already sobbing, her eyes red as she put on her best act.
“Everett, please, don’t be mad at her. I take her place. She has a right to hate me.”
They looked at me as if I were some kind of stray dog, not their flesh and blood, not definitely not a sister. They had forgotten the truth—how it was only after Erica’s accident and her need for a kidney transplant that I was found and brought back.
Years of neglect and malnutrition had stunted my growth; I was a full head shorter than Erica and my thighs were thinner than her arms. I was forced to donate a kidney and more than half of my blood, to save her. How could someone as frail and broken as I possibly bully their beloved daughter?
“I'm sorry, Evangeline. I didn't mean for things to turn out this way,” Erica continued, her voice full of pity. “This is my fault. If I hadn't let them check your medical report, none of this would have happened.”
She cried, playing the victim, but I saw the smug glint in her eyes. She knew her secret would remain safe. Just like how she had stolen my meal card at school.
I turned to my mother, praying she would intervene, that she would finally stand up for me. But instead, she comforted Erica, asking me repeatedly if I’d lost the card myself.
With a weary sigh, my mother finally said, “Maybe it’s best if we just send her back. Pretend I never had her as a daughter.”
I met their cold, condemning eyes, my heart sinking into the pit of my stomach. In a daze, I pulled out the crumpled medical report from my pocket, nearly destroyed from being run over by a car.
“Mom, I need to tell you… This is my medical report,” my voice cracked as I handed it to her.