Brittany was smiling by the phone.
My dad lit a cigar. “This isn’t a money thing. It’s
going to be a pain in the ass to send you there.
We alen have to worry about you all the time!
く
We also have to worry about you all the time.”
“Please. It’s not hard.” I have to convince them.
I said that I would take care of myself.
Dad said I had no idea what I was talking about.
He said if I got into any trouble while I was
abroad, who would take care of me? He said
they were all busy, and that I needed to think
about that.
I started tearing up. The rejection was out in
the open.
I had to ask.
I asked, “Since everyone is so busy, aren’t you
afraid that Brittany will get into trouble
overseas?”
“You!” Dad exploded in anger.
<
My mom slapped my mouth and told me not to
say such morbid things.
Just then, Mark showed up.
He had just heard that Brittany was going
abroad, and he flew from Washington.
Brittany instantly went to his side and whined.
“Sarah wished that something bad would
happen to me when I go to Switzerland!”
After three years of constant arguing, she had
won. She didn’t even have to pretend anymore.
Mark was not happy.
Without asking, he slapped me. “You want to
die?”
16
I had my mouth full of blood.
<
I broke down.
I started crying.
I said, “Why did you hit me! It was you who
asked if I wanted to go to Switzerland!.
“You guys don’t love me. You’ve never loved
- me. You would be happy if I was dead!”
Everyone was shocked, then angry.
My mom stopped pretending. “Why are you acting like this? Why are you so embarrassing!”
My dad sent the servants away, then ordered
me to be quiet.
My brother stared.
My body started shaking.
I didn’t know what I was living for.
<
I continued to cry, and said, “Wouldn’t you be happy if I was dead?”
“Yes, just go die already!” My brother sneered.
Mom and Dad started waving and yelled, “Get
out!”
I wasn’t shaking anymore. My heart wasn’t
beating anymore.
I turned and started running upstairs.
I ran to the fifth floor.
No one tried to stop me.
I was at the roof.
I ran over to the edge.
When I jumped over the fence, one of the
servants cried out, “Ms. Sarah, don’t do it!”
く
Everyone in the house came to watch.
Mom, dad, and Mark showed up.
Brittany was smiling.
I stood in the wind.
“Jump! Why are you so immature? You’re 18
years old.”
Mom started yelling. She thought that I was
making her lose face.
My dad was waving his hand, telling me to
jump.
Jump already.
1
My brother hugged Brittany and said, “Don’t do
it here. The floor will get dirty!”
I laughed.
く
Sorry for making your floor dirty.
I closed my eyes, and jumped.
17
I died.
I became a ghost.
My legs were broken, and there was blood and
brain everywhere.
But I felt at peace.
I was staring at my body, and my family.
If I could talk, I would yell: “Hey look, I’m dead.
Are you happy now!”
I wanted to see them finally feel bad.
It didn’t happen.
<
My dad told the servants to leave, then shook
his head and said that I was immature.
My mom was trembling, but no tears fell.
She said, “Silly child.”
At the same time, she was relieved.
I was finally gone.
Mark was blocking Brittany’s view and was on
the phone.
The only one crying was Brittany.
She looked scared, but I could tell that she was
smiling inside.
She’s finally gotten what she wanted.
My family told her it wasn’t her fault, and that I
was the one who asked for it.
<
I slowly disappeared.
Sarah, you are so stupid.
18
I shuddered.
“Honey, why aren’t you saying anything? Mom’s
asking if you want to go to school in
Switzerland.”
“No,” I said. “Class is starting soon.”
“Oh. Okay.”
I hung up.
I would start studying.
19
Brittany left for Switzerland, and I got ready for
<
college.
For a lot of rich kids, college was easy.
But for me, it was everything.
I put all my effort into my books.
When I walked out of the classroom, tears started falling.
My friend said, “What’s wrong? Why are you
crying?”
I looked in the mirror and admired myself.
I have made something of myself. I was strong.
I decided to go on vacation to the beach.
This was the first time I’ve been on vacation in
three years.
<
I took two pictures: one of the ocean, and one
of myself.
I made a social media post with a smile.
My mom was the first to like.
She said: “Sarah, is this you?”
I said yes.
My mom said: “You’ve changed.”
I have changed.
My dad texted. “Where are you?”
I told him I went to the beach.
My dad said: “I was planning on taking you to
the beach. But now you’re going alone. It’s
dangerous.”
く
I said nothing.
My brother liked it and said: “So beautiful.”
I didn’t reply.
20
Before I went to college, I got a part time job.
I’ve been working for a week before my mom found out about it.
She was very upset. “Why did you leave without telling us? What if something happened? You don’t need to work.”
“I need the money. College costs a lot of
money.”
My mom said: “We have so much money.”
You do not need to say that out loud. I’m not
<
supposed to know.
I didn’t say anything.
My mom asked if my dad gave me money.
I said no.
“What about your brother?” she asked.
“No.”
I hung up the phone.
21
My test scores came in, and the school
celebrated.
I was the top in the city.
The principal started crying, and told me that I
was a genius.
<
I smiled.
Then I stopped smiling, because my parents
came to find me.
The teacher invited them to take photos with
- me.
My mom was smiling.
My dad was shaking hands with everyone.
I left.
There was a fancy car. It was Mark.
He stared at me and asked where I was going.
“I’m going to get food.” I started walking
towards the cafe.
Mark coughed and sat down.
<
“You eat this?” he asked.
“It tastes good.” I said.
Mark gave me a card and told me that this was
money to help me get through college.
I didn’t take it.
He left it and slowly walked away.
22
I took the card back to the mansion and put it
in the living room.
I started packing my things.
When I was about to leave, my parents arrived.
They asked why I didn’t take photos with them.
144
<
“I didn’t know that there was going to be
photos.” I told them.
My dad got angry.
My mom grabbed my hand and said that they
loved me, and they wanted me to share my
happiness with them.
Real Parents?
