3
We arrived at a hotel.
I found out it was Summer’s celebration for
getting accepted into the Black Swan Dance
Company.
Jake pointed me to a room to change, then
rushed off to give Summer her gift.
I stared at the line of poofy dresses.
I nervously clenched the hem of the dress in
my hands.
Since we were kids, Mom and Dad had
pushed us into the dance world. I followed
their plans, did everything right.
Summer, on the other hand, always found
ways to get out of things, hiding behind me.
She always said she didn’t want to dance,
didn’t want her life planned out for her.
I figured that if I worked hard enough, if she
wanted to slack off, me and Jake would
always have her back.
But I was wrong.
I shook my head and walked out.
Summer was standing in the middle of the
ballroom, basking in everyone’s praise,
wearing a million–dollar custom–made dress
and a diamond tiara.
<
Seeing me, she grabbed Mom and Dad and
walked over.
“Daisy, why didn’t you change? Are you upset
that I got into Black Swan? If so, Mom and
Dad, I can give my spot to her.”
“It’s just that she’s dressed like this at a
party, the media will say our family has no
manners.”
Everyone’s attention swiveled to me, their
eyes filled with disdain.
“Who’s that? Dressed like a beggar. Does she
even know where she is? She’s ruining our
eyes.”
“Look closer. She looks like the younger
aaugnter of the Millers. Coula it de the MISS
Miller that was eating too much, who’s fatter
than anything before? It’s been a year, and
she’s so thin. Just bones.”
“She showed up at her sister’s party looking
like this. She’s doing this to be horrible. I
heard she’s the reason Summer was
kidnapped all those years ago. Some people
are just rotten to the core.”
Summer and I were twins.
When we were eight, we were kidnapped by
traffickers.
After two days of starvation, I waited for the
kidnappers to loosen their guards. Then, when
they were relaxing one night, I grabbed her
hand and pulled her away.
Г
We didn’t get far before they found us. I knew
if we got caught we were going to die.
My leg was already cut up by branches,
leaving a trail of blood, so I told her to run,
and I’d distract them.
But she got caught, and I got rescued.
A decade later, after she was found, the first
thing she said was that I had abandoned her.
“Daisy said that if I disappeared, she’d have
all the family’s love to herself.”
Mom, Dad, and Jake believed her. No matter
how much I explained, it was all seen as lies
to cover my sins.
Just like that, I became the family villain,
willing to betray her own sister for attention.
Now, seeing the clothes on my body, Mom
and Dad started yelling.
“What’s wrong with you? Summer prepared
so many dresses for you, so why aren’t you
wearing one? Are you trying to make the
Millers look bad?”
“You should be grateful for the family that
you have. You are the reason that your sister
was kidnapped and suffered for over a
decade. Why do you keep showing up to ruin
her life! You want to see us fight and argue
like before.”
I’d heard those accusations a million times,
and I didn’t dare try to argue.
L
To punish me for making Summer suffer all
those years of hardship, they forced me to
have two–thirds of my stomach cut out,
claiming I had too big of an appetite.
Because I was allergic to anesthesia, I bit
through my lip to get through it.
That’s when I learned to shut up and obey.
Jake frowned and strode over.
“You’re acting crazy when I picked you up,
and now you’re here to try to get sympathy
from everyone. Put on that face, as if we’ve
abused you. After a year of learning manners,
you’re back to your old ways. You’re
disgusting!”
L
“Go change your clothes. You still want to
embarrass the Millers?”
As he yelled, his hand reached out and ripped
my clothes.
My wig was ripped off my head.
A chill ran down my head, triggering an
instant panic.
I dropped to my knees, banging my head
against the floor, begging for forgiveness.
“2145 messed up. Don’t be angry. I’ll leave
right now…”
I rolled on the ground a few times and then I
acted like a dog and barked a few times.
Then I licked Jake’s legs and wagged my tail.
