5
I vanished. Deleted my online presence,
changed my name. No one knew where I was,
or if I was even alive.
I arrived at the cottage late at night.
The waves crashed against the shore, a
mournful sound that echoed the emptiness in
my heart.
Family. Love. Gone.
A storm raged, mirroring the turmoil within
- me.
I remembered being five years old, making
Mom scrambled eggs.
They were burnt.
But I proudly presented them to her.
“Mommy, mommy, I made you eggs! I tried them, they’re good, just…not pretty. Eat!”
She swatted the plate from my hand. Scalding
eggs and broken china burned my skin,
blistering instantly.
“Just like your good–for–nothing father!
Useless! Even scrambled eggs are too much.
for you!”
“Why can’t you be more like me?
Competent?”
I was confused. Did she want good eggs, or
no eggs at all?
But one thing was clear: I needed to be
perfect. Then she would love me.
So I excelled in everything. Every class, every
extracurricular activity. Straight As.
I used to despise Dad. He was so weak,
always at Mom’s beck and call.
But in high school, I fell in love with Michael,
and I finally understood.
Dad loved Mom too much to leave.
I inherited Mom’s temper. I was bossy, even
with Michael. I’d throw tantrums over nothing.
L
He never got mad. He’d just smile.
I asked him once, “Why don’t you ever fight
back?”
“Because I love you too much. I’m afraid
you’ll leave.”
The night before my college entrance exams,
Mark and David pulled Michael and me aside.
They had a bunch of silly good luck charms.
“Sarah, touch this flag! It means ‘flags flying,
victory coming‘!”
“Hug this fish! It’s a carp, it’ll help you ‘leap over the dragon gate‘ into a top university!”
I laughed, calling Mark superstitious.
r
Then David, the science–minded med student,
pulled out two small paper charms.
“Uh…good luck tomorrow.”
Michael and I burst out laughing at his
awkwardness.
“Where did you guys find this stuff?”
Dad emerged from behind us, a gentle smile
on his face.
“Dad! It was you!”
He patted my head.
“My girl. Take these. They’re lucky. Ace those
exams. Become a powerful businesswoman,
like your mother.”
Mark put his arm around me.
“Yeah, Sarah. I’m not the brains of the family.
You are. The future of Miller Industries rests
on your shoulders.”
David grinned.
“I’m counting on you to build me a big
hospital someday. Make me the chief of
staff!”
Michael playfully punched them both.
“Hey, I want to ride my girlfriend’s coattails
too!”
They lifted me up, tossing me in the air.
Laughter filled the night.
We were so young. So carefree.
