You Ignored My Birthday So I Erased Myself From The Family Dailymotion Movie | They Took Her for Granted… Until She Left─影片 Dailymotion

ReelShort Drama Shorts

👇Download the app to watch full HD episode for free: https://reelslink.com/marketing/GmhzvN 👇Click to Find More HD EPs https://g.shrinkrl.com/ZmTP8b 🍁Notice: All videos by ReelShort Drama Shorts are officially authorized. Her family celebrates everyone’s birthday except hers. 💔 Ethan gets steak, Chloe gets Six Flags, and she gets nothing—not even a birthday wish. On her eighteenth birthday, she finally realizes she doesn’t need to wait for their love anymore. 🎂✨ She’s eighteen now, and for the first time, she can choose her own life.

Transcript

00:00:04That night, I laid a mattress on the floor of Chloe's room.

00:00:09Sis, why don't you sleep on the bed? I'll sleep on the floor.

00:00:13No, the floor is fine.

00:00:16Ashley is actually okay. Don't be upset.

00:00:20Ashley was never what upset me.

00:00:23What hurt was that in this house, I was always the one expected to give way.

00:00:30This family celebrates everyone's birthday.

00:00:33Everyone's but mine.

00:00:34Because my parents only love my twin siblings, Ethan and Chloe.

00:00:38They don't love me.

00:00:39When Ethan wants a birthday party, my parents book a private room at his favorite steakhouse a month in advance.

00:00:46When it's Chloe's turn and she wants to go to Six Flags, the whole family goes.

00:00:51Mom even posts nine photos on Instagram.

00:00:53But on my birthday, this house always treats it like any other day.

00:00:57I thought turning 18 would be different.

00:01:00That morning, I got up early on purpose, put on light makeup, and sat on the living room couch to

00:01:06wait.

00:01:07Mom walked past me on her way out, carrying Chloe's dance bag.

00:01:11Heat up your own lunch. I'm taking Chloe to her intensive class.

00:01:15Dad was watering tomatoes in the backyard.

00:01:19Ethan called him to go play basketball at the park, and the two of them left soon after.

00:01:24At noon, I was the only one left in the house.

00:01:27I sent a message in the family group chat.

00:01:29I'm 18 today.

00:01:32No one replied.

00:01:33At 7 that night, everybody came home.

00:01:35No one sang.

00:01:37No one felt like anything was missing.

00:01:39I was 18 now.

00:01:41At last, I could decide for myself where I wanted to go.

00:01:45Mallory, delete that message from the group chat.

00:01:48I almost missed Grandpa's voice message.

00:01:51Ethan didn't even look up.

00:01:54He tapped the edge of his plate, lightly with his dinner knife, signaling Mom to give him more ribs.

00:02:01I looked down at my phone.

00:02:03The message in the family chat, I'm 18 today, was still sitting there.

00:02:08No one had replied.

00:02:10Mom came over with a plate of garlic bread and set it in the middle of the table.

00:02:16All right.

00:02:18No phones at dinner.

00:02:21I looked at the food on the table.

00:02:23Ethan liked ribs.

00:02:25Chloe liked mac and cheese.

00:02:26Mom had made the salad for herself.

00:02:28Not a single dish was for me.

00:02:30I liked seafood.

00:02:33Grilled salmon was my favorite.

00:02:35I had said it so many times.

00:02:37No one in this family remembered.

00:02:41Dad, today...

00:02:43Dad set down his iced tea and glanced at me.

00:02:47The next second, he turned back to Ethan.

00:02:49How's your wrist from basketball this afternoon?

00:02:52Does the sprain still hurt?

00:02:53It's okay.

00:02:54Shoot.

00:02:55It aches a little when I shoot.

00:02:56I'll take you to a sports therapist tomorrow.

00:02:59My words died in midair.

00:03:01I finished dinner quietly and went to wash the dishes.

00:03:05I turned the faucet on high.

00:03:09From the living room came the sound of Chloe practicing ballet basics, her toes landing against the floor one by

00:03:14one.

00:03:15Mom counted beats beside her.

00:03:17Ethan was playing Xbox in his room, shouting every few minutes.

00:03:21Dad was on the couch with his iPad.

00:03:23Everyone in this house had something of their own.

00:03:25Everyone had someone answering them.

00:03:29Except me.

00:03:31I stood in the kitchen, washing platelets and cups for five people.

00:03:36The water was loud.

00:03:38Loud enough that even if I cried, no one would hear.

00:03:41After the dishes, I went back to my room and shut the door.

00:03:44My phone lit up.

00:03:45It was a message in the class group chat.

00:03:48It was the only happy birthday I had received all day from a classmate I had known for less than

00:03:52a year.

00:03:53I replied, thank you.

00:03:54Then I opened my photo album and kept scrolling back.

00:03:57After I turned six, mom's camera had almost completely turned toward them.

00:04:01Most of the photos were of them.

00:04:03I scrolled for a long time before I finally found one.

00:04:06It was from when I was nine and had entered the school speech contest.

00:04:09Mom had taken it from the audience.

00:04:11The photo was blurry.

00:04:13Only half my body was in it because the other half of the frame was Chloe in the front row,

00:04:18turning back toward the camera with a bright smile.

00:04:21I stood offstage in front of the microphone, my face barely visible.

00:04:26The phone screen dimmed and my face appeared in the black reflection.

00:04:3218-year-old Mallory Hayes had spent the whole morning putting on makeup,

00:04:35waited all day and still hadn't gotten a single happy birthday.

00:04:39Mom's voice came from outside the door.

00:04:43Mallory, wake your sister at seven tomorrow morning.

00:04:47She has training at 8.30.

00:04:50Okay.

00:04:53Hey, sis. It's seven.

00:04:56Chloe had woken up on her own.

00:04:58She stood in my doorway in a pink leotard, her hair half-tied.

00:05:01I checked my phone.

00:05:036.53.

00:05:04My alarm hadn't even gone off.

00:05:06You got up by yourself?

00:05:08Yeah.

00:05:09I set an alarm.

00:05:11Mom told you to wake me, but I was afraid you didn't sleep well last night.

00:05:15She said it so casually, but the words still stung.

00:05:19She knew I hadn't slept well last night.

00:05:21I'll help you tie your hair.

00:05:24No, it's fine.

00:05:25I can do it.

00:05:28She turned and left.

00:05:31Chloe had always been like that with me.

00:05:33She wasn't cruel.

00:05:35She just wasn't close.

00:05:38She called me sis, but the word carried no weight.

00:05:42The twins had their own rhythm, and I had never been able to enter it.

00:05:47At breakfast, Mom was warming milk for Chloe.

00:05:50Ethan wasn't up yet.

00:05:52Mally, have you eaten?

00:05:54I have.

00:05:55I hadn't.

00:05:56She didn't even check whether there was a bowl I'd used on the table.

00:06:00She just nodded.

00:06:01Chloe, did you pack your water bottle?

00:06:03It's hot today.

00:06:04Drink more water.

00:06:06I did.

00:06:08Mally, drive your sister there.

00:06:10She still doesn't know the stops near the training center.

00:06:12Chloe had been going to that training center for two years.

00:06:16Mom still said she didn't know the way.

00:06:19Okay.

00:06:20As we were leaving, Ethan finally got up and called from his doorway.

00:06:25Mom, what's for breakfast?

00:06:27I left you a bagel and yogurt on the table.

00:06:30A bagel and yogurt?

00:06:32Ethan's regular breakfast.

00:06:35No one had ever asked what I wanted in the morning.

00:06:37On the way to the training center,

00:06:40Chloe sat in the passenger seat scrolling through her phone.

00:06:43She wasn't trying to be cold.

00:06:45It just never occurred to her to talk to me.

00:06:51Sis?

00:06:52When she suddenly spoke, my palm tightened on the wheel.

00:06:56What?

00:06:58That message you sent in the group chat yesterday?

00:07:01Ethan told you to delete it?

00:07:03Yeah.

00:07:05Did you?

00:07:07No.

00:07:09She nodded, then lowered her head to look at her phone again.

00:07:13I waited for a long time, waiting for her to say,

00:07:15Happy birthday.

00:07:17She didn't.

00:07:18When we reached the training center, she unbuckled her seat belt.

00:07:22Sis, I'm here.

00:07:24Yeah.

00:07:25Train hard.

00:07:26Can you pick me up this afternoon?

00:07:27I finish at five.

00:07:28I have a study group this afternoon.

00:07:31That was a lie.

00:07:32I had nothing this afternoon.

00:07:33I just didn't want to go.

00:07:35Then I'll ask mom to pick me up.

00:07:37Okay.

00:07:38At 4.50 that afternoon, mom sent a message in the family group chat.

00:07:43Chloe finishes training at five.

00:07:45Who can pick her up?

00:07:46I'm in a meeting.

00:07:47I'm at a friend's house.

00:07:48Mallory, aren't you free this afternoon?

00:07:50I looked at that message.

00:07:52She started with who can pick her up, but in the end, it still landed on me.

00:07:56It's on your way anyway, right?

00:07:57Just go pick her up.

00:07:58It wasn't on my way at all, but in this family, my road was always on the way.

00:08:02My time was always free.

00:08:04I typed okay and sent it.

00:08:06Then I turned my phone face down on the desk.

00:08:10Suddenly, I wondered, what would happen if one day I didn't reply with okay?

00:08:17If I turned off my phone, canceled my number, and disappeared too, would they first panic

00:08:23because no one could pick up Chloe?

00:08:25Or would they think of me first?

00:08:27I knew the answer.

00:08:28When I picked Chloe up, her face was flushed from training, and her hair was damp.

00:08:33Sis, I'm thirsty.

00:08:35Where's your water bottle?

00:08:36Finished it.

00:08:37I handed her the spare bottle of water in the car.

00:08:40Thanks, sis.

00:08:41On the way home, she soon fell asleep against the window.

00:08:44I adjusted the air conditionings so the car wouldn't be so cold.

00:08:47She was the little princess everyone in the family revolved around,

00:08:50and most of the roads I had driven through this city had been for someone else,

00:08:53but not for much longer.

00:08:56Not long after, the school college counselor called me into her office.

00:09:00Mallory Hayes, I saw your awards record.

00:09:02Honorable Ments in the National Math Olympias.

00:09:05That's impressive.

00:09:06Awards like that carry real weight.

00:09:08Which schools are you considering for early applications?

00:09:10I'm still looking.

00:09:11What do your parents think?

00:09:13I haven't told them yet.

00:09:14Something this important, and you're not discussing it with your family first?

00:09:18I want to look into it myself first.

00:09:20I knew that even if I told them, no one would take it seriously.

00:09:23On last month's mock examen, I ranked third in the entire grade.

00:09:26I took a photo of my report card and sent it to the family group chat.

00:09:28My third place ranking stayed in the chat for only a very short while.

00:09:31All it got from mom was one sentence.

00:09:33Not bad.

00:09:33The next message was a video mom sent of Chloe dancing.

00:09:36That afternoon, when I got home, I found a dusty letter among a pile of bills and flyers

00:09:41on the coffee table.

00:09:42It said,

00:09:42Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. Hayes.

00:09:44Your daughter, Mallory Hayes, has received an honorable mention in the National High School

00:09:48Mathematics Olympiad.

00:09:50Two months had passed.

00:09:51The envelope hadn't even been opened.

00:09:52It was tucked between bills and pizza courons.

00:09:55Completely forgotten.

00:09:56At dinner, mom answered a FaceTime call from my aunt.

00:09:59My aunt asked about Ethan's swim meet.

00:10:01Mom said he had taken second place in the district, pride filling her voice.

00:10:05My aunt asked about Chloe's dance competition.

00:10:07Mom said she had won gold at regionals, and the judges had praised how steady she was off

00:10:11dyes.

00:10:12How's Mallory?

00:10:13She's applying to college soon too, right?

00:10:16She's doing fine.

00:10:18Third in my grade.

00:10:19A National Math Olympiac award.

00:10:21In mom's mouth, all of it became doing fine.

00:10:24I sat at the dining table, still holding the award letter that had been forgotten for two

00:10:27months.

00:10:28No one asked how I had been lately.

00:10:30No one turned to me and said, Mallory, what about you?

00:10:32I went back to my room, opened my laptop, and started looking up colleges that would actually

00:10:36care about competition backgrounds.

00:10:38In the end, I stopped at Carnegie Mellon.

00:10:40Hundreds of miles away from home, no one would remember me, only when they needed someone to pick

00:10:44up my sister.

00:10:44I opened the application page.

00:10:47My fingers hovered over the screen for three seconds before I finally closed it.

00:10:52I decided to try one more time.

00:10:54If they still couldn't see me this time, I would leave.

00:10:58Completely.

00:11:01Mallory, Ashley is coming to stay with us for a while.

00:11:06Give her your room and share with Chloe for now.

00:11:08Saturday morning, mom said it casually while changing shoes by the door.

00:11:12I was sitting at the dining table, eating cereal.

00:11:15My spoon stopped in midair.

00:11:20Why my room?

00:11:21Your room gets the best natural light.

00:11:24Ashley hasn't been feeling well lately, and the doctor said more sunlight would be good

00:11:27for her.

00:11:27Ethan's room has a window, too.

00:11:29Your brother is a boy.

00:11:30Ashley is a girl.

00:11:31How could they share a room?

00:11:32Then let her stay with Chloe.

00:11:34Chloe needs space to stretch at night.

00:11:36Your room only has a bed and a desk.

00:11:37It's easy to clear out.

00:11:38How long is she staying?

00:11:39About half a month.

00:11:40Her summer program is over here.

00:11:42I didn't argue anymore.

00:11:43Experience had taught me a long time ago that arguing was useless.

00:11:46That afternoon, Ashley came in dragging two large suitcases, smiling sweetly.

00:11:54Auntie, uncle.

00:11:55You're here.

00:11:56You're here.

00:11:57Come in.

00:11:58Mom was so warm, as if an important guest had arrived.

00:12:02Ashley pushed her suitcases into my room and looked around from the doorway.

00:12:06Auntie, can this bookshelf be moved out?

00:12:09I want to put a vanity mirror here.

00:12:11Of course.

00:12:13Mallory, move the bookshelf out.

00:12:15On my bookshelf were three years of notebooks, reference books, and a few certificates.

00:12:20It took me an hour to move everything into a corner of Chloe's room.

00:12:24That night, I laid a mattress on the floor of Chloe's room.

00:12:29Sis, why don't you sleep on the bed?

00:12:31I'll sleep on the floor.

00:12:33No, the floor is fine.

00:12:35Ashley is actually okay.

00:12:37Don't be upset.

00:12:39Ashley was never what upset me.

00:12:42What hurt was that in this house, I was always the one expected to give way.

00:12:48On the third day, I went back to my room to get review materials, and opened the door

00:12:53to find Ashley flipping through my math competition notes.

00:12:56These are yours?

00:12:57Your handwriting is so neat.

00:12:58Yeah.

00:12:59Please put them back.

00:13:00I was just looking.

00:13:01You're way too protective of this stuff.

00:13:03She casually put the notebook back on the desk.

00:13:06I glanced over and suddenly realized one was missing.

00:13:09There was a blue one on the desk.

00:13:10Where is it?

00:13:11I didn't touch it.

00:13:11I didn't see it.

00:13:13I searched for ten minutes and finally found it in the trash can.

00:13:16Half the cover had been torn off, and several pages inside were soaked with coffee.

00:13:20The writing blurred into smears.

00:13:22It was the problem-solving notebook I had been organizing since freshman year.

00:13:25Three years.

00:13:26I only had that one copy.

00:13:28Ashley, this?

00:13:29Oh, maybe I knocked it over when I was carrying coffee.

00:13:31Just write another one.

00:13:32I stood in the doorway holding the drenched notebook, my hands shaking.

00:13:39I took the notebook back to Chloe's room and dried it page by page with a hair broyer.

00:13:45Where the writing was blurred, I slowly filled it back in with a pencil.

00:13:52I worked until one in the morning.

00:13:54The next morning, Ashley sat in my old seat, chatting happily with Mom.

00:13:58No one asked why the circles under my eyes were so dark or what had happened last night,

00:14:02and I no longer needed to wait for that one last time.

00:14:06From that day on, I began preparing to leave.

00:14:08Until the day I received my acceptance letter, I knew the time had come to leave this house.

00:14:13I packed my suitcase and bought a Greyhouse ticket for the early dawn departure the next day.

00:14:17The destination was Pittsburgh.

00:14:19Then I walked to the door and placed my house key on the small entryway table.

00:14:22I left the group chat and deactivated my old phone number.

00:14:26The screen went dark.

00:14:28The whole world suddenly became much quieter.

00:14:32I pulled my suitcase, opened the door, and closed it softly behind me.

00:14:48That night, I laid a mattress on the floor of Chloe's room.

00:14:53Sis, why don't you sleep on the bed?

00:14:55I'll sleep on the floor.

00:14:57No, the floor is fine.

00:15:00Ashley is actually okay.

00:15:02Don't be upset.

00:15:04Ashley was never what upset me.

00:15:07What hurt was that in this house, I was always the one expected to give way.

00:15:13This family celebrates everyone's birthday.

00:15:17Everyone's but mine.

00:15:18Because my parents only love my twin siblings, Ethan and Chloe.

00:15:22They don't love me.

00:15:23When Ethan wants a birthday party, my parents book a private room at his favorite steakhouse a month in advance.

00:15:30When it's Chloe's turn and she wants to go to Six Flags, the whole family goes.

00:15:34Mom even posts nine photos on Instagram.

00:15:37But on my birthday, this house always treats it like any other day.

00:15:41I thought turning 18 would be different.

00:15:44That morning, I got up early on purpose, put on light makeup, and sat on the living room couch to

00:15:50wait.

00:15:50Mom walked past me on her way out, carrying Chloe's dance bag.

00:15:55Heat up your own lunch.

00:15:56I'm taking Chloe to her intensive class.

00:15:59Dad was watering tomatoes in the backyard.

00:16:02Ethan called him to go play basketball at the park, and the two of them left soon after.

00:16:08At noon, I was the only one left in the house.

00:16:11I sent a message in the family group chat.

00:16:13I'm 18 today.

00:16:15No one replied.

00:16:17At seven that night, everybody came home.

00:16:19No one sang.

00:16:20No one felt like anything was missing.

00:16:23I was 18 now.

00:16:25At last, I could decide for myself where I wanted to go.

00:16:29Mallory, delete that message from the group chat.

00:16:32I almost missed Grandpa's voice message.

00:16:35Ethan didn't even look up.

00:16:37He tapped the edge of his plate, lightly with his dinner knife, signaling Mom to give him more ribs.

00:16:45I looked down at my phone.

00:16:47The message in the family chat, I'm 18 today, was still sitting there.

00:16:51No one had replied.

00:16:54Mom came over with a plate of garlic bread and set it in the middle of the table.

00:17:00All right.

00:17:02No phones at dinner.

00:17:04I looked at the food on the table.

00:17:07Ethan liked ribs.

00:17:08Chloe liked mac and cheese.

00:17:10Mom had made the salad for herself.

00:17:12Not a single dish was for me.

00:17:14I liked seafood.

00:17:16Grilled salmon was my favorite.

00:17:18I had said it so many times.

00:17:21No one in this family remembered.

00:17:25Dad, today...

00:17:27Dad set down his iced tea and glanced at me.

00:17:30The next second, he turned back to Ethan.

00:17:33How's your wrist from basketball this afternoon?

00:17:35Does the sprain still hurt?

00:17:37It's okay.

00:17:38Shoot.

00:17:39It aches a little when I shoot.

00:17:40I'll take you to a sports therapist tomorrow.

00:17:42My words died in midair.

00:17:45I finished dinner quietly and went to wash the dishes.

00:17:49I turned the faucet on high.

00:17:52From the living room came the sound of Chloe practicing ballet basics.

00:17:56Her toes landing against the floor one by one.

00:17:59Mom counted beats beside her.

00:18:01Ethan was playing Xbox in his room, shouting every few minutes.

00:18:04Dad was on the couch with his iPad.

00:18:06Everyone in this house had something of their own.

00:18:09Everyone had someone answering them.

00:18:12Except me.

00:18:15I stood in the kitchen, washing platelets and cups for five people.

00:18:20The water was loud.

00:18:22Loud enough that even if I cried, no one would hear.

00:18:25After the dishes, I went back to my room and shut the door.

00:18:28My phone lit up.

00:18:29It was a message in the class group chat.

00:18:31It was the only happy birthday I had received all day from a classmate I had known for less than

00:18:36a year.

00:18:36I replied, thank you.

00:18:37Then I opened my photo album and kept scrolling back.

00:18:40After I turned six, Mom's camera had almost completely turned toward them.

00:18:45Most of the photos were of them.

00:18:46I scrolled for a long time before I finally found one.

00:18:49It was from when I was nine and had entered the school speech contest.

00:18:53Mom had taken it from the audience.

00:18:55The photo was blurry.

00:18:57Only half my body was in it because the other half of the frame was Chloe in the front row,

00:19:02turning back toward the camera with a bright smile.

00:19:04I stood off stage in front of the microphone, my face barely visible.

00:19:10The phone screen dimmed, and my face appeared in the black reflection.

00:19:15Eighteen-year-old Mallory Hayes had spent the whole morning putting on makeup,

00:19:19waited all day, and still hadn't gotten a single happy birthday.

00:19:23Mom's voice came from outside the door.

00:19:27Mallory, wake your sister at seven tomorrow morning.

00:19:31She has training at 8.30.

00:19:34Okay.

00:19:37Hey, sis. It's seven.

00:19:40Chloe had woken up on her own.

00:19:41She stood in my doorway in a pink leotard, her hair half-tied.

00:19:45I checked my phone.

00:19:476.53.

00:19:48My alarm hadn't even gone off.

00:19:50You got up by yourself?

00:19:52Yeah.

00:19:53I set an alarm.

00:19:55Mom told you to wake me, but I was afraid you didn't sleep well last night.

00:19:59She said it so casually, but the words still stung.

00:20:02She knew I hadn't slept well last night.

00:20:05I'll help you tie your hair.

00:20:07No, it's fine.

00:20:09I can do it.

00:20:12She turned and left.

00:20:15Chloe had always been like that with me.

00:20:17She wasn't cruel.

00:20:19She just wasn't close.

00:20:22She called me sis, but the word carried no weight.

00:20:26The twins had their own rhythm, and I had never been able to enter it.

00:20:30At breakfast, Mom was warming milk for Chloe.

00:20:33Ethan wasn't up yet.

00:20:36Mally, have you eaten?

00:20:38I have.

00:20:39I hadn't.

00:20:40She didn't even check whether there was a bowl I'd used on the table.

00:20:43She just nodded.

00:20:45Chloe, did you pack your water bottle?

00:20:47It's hot today.

00:20:48Drink more water.

00:20:49I did.

00:20:51Mally, drive your sister there.

00:20:53She still doesn't know the stops near the training center.

00:20:56Chloe had been going to that training center for two years.

00:21:00Mom still said she didn't know the way.

00:21:03Okay.

00:21:04As we were leaving, Ethan finally got up and called from his doorway.

00:21:08Mom, what's for breakfast?

00:21:11I left you a bagel and yogurt on the table.

00:21:14A bagel and yogurt?

00:21:16Ethan's regular breakfast.

00:21:18No one had ever asked what I wanted in the morning.

00:21:21On the way to the training center,

00:21:23Chloe sat in the passenger seat scrolling through her phone.

00:21:27She wasn't trying to be cold.

00:21:30It just never occurred to her to talk to me.

00:21:34Sis?

00:21:36When she suddenly spoke, my palm tightened on the wheel.

00:21:40What?

00:21:42That message you sent in the group chat yesterday?

00:21:44Ethan told you to delete it?

00:21:47Yeah.

00:21:49Did you?

00:21:51No.

00:21:53She nodded, then lowered her head to look at her phone again.

00:21:56I waited for a long time, waiting for her to say, happy birthday.

00:22:00She didn't.

00:22:02When we reached the training center, she unbuckled her seat belt.

00:22:06Sis, I'm here.

00:22:08Yeah.

00:22:09Train hard.

00:22:10Can you pick me up this afternoon?

00:22:11I finish at five.

00:22:12I have a study group this afternoon.

00:22:14That was a lie.

00:22:15I had nothing this afternoon.

00:22:17I just didn't want to go.

00:22:19Then I'll ask mom to pick me up.

00:22:20Okay.

00:22:22At 4.50 that afternoon, mom sent a message in the family group chat.

00:22:27Chloe finishes training at five.

00:22:29Who can pick her up?

00:22:30I'm in a meeting.

00:22:31I'm at a friend's house.

00:22:32Mallory, aren't you free this afternoon?

00:22:34I looked at that message.

00:22:36She started with who can pick her up, but in the end, it still landed on me.

00:22:40It's on your way anyway, right?

00:22:41Just go pick her up.

00:22:42It wasn't on my way at all, but in this family, my road was always on the way.

00:22:46My time was always free.

00:22:48I typed okay and sent it.

00:22:50Then I turned my phone face down on the desk.

00:22:54Suddenly, I wondered what would happen if one day I didn't reply with okay.

00:23:01If I turned off my phone, canceled my number, and disappeared too.

00:23:06Would they first panic because no one could pick up Chloe, or would they think of me first?

00:23:11I knew the answer.

00:23:12When I picked Chloe up, her face was flushed from training and her hair was damp.

00:23:17Sis, I'm thirsty.

00:23:18Where's your water bottle?

00:23:20Finished it.

00:23:21I handed her the spare bottle of water in the car.

00:23:23Thanks, sis.

00:23:25On the way home, she soon fell asleep against the window.

00:23:28I adjusted the air conditionings so the car wouldn't be so cold.

00:23:31She was the little princess everyone in the family revolved around,

00:23:34and most of the roads I had driven through this city had been for someone else, but not for much

00:23:38longer.

00:23:39Not long after, the school college counselor called me into her office.

00:23:43Mallory Hayes, I saw your awards record.

00:23:46Honorable Ments in the National Math Olympias.

00:23:48That's impressive.

00:23:49Awards like that carry real weight.

00:23:51Which schools are you considering for early applications?

00:23:54I'm still looking.

00:23:55What do your parents think?

00:23:56I haven't told them yet.

00:23:58Something this important, and you're not discussing it with your family first?

00:24:02I want to look into it myself first.

00:24:04I knew that even if I told them, no one would take it seriously.

00:24:07On last month's mock examine, I ranked third in the entire grade.

00:24:10I took a photo of my report card and sent it to the family group chat.

00:24:12My third place ranking stayed in the chat for only a very short while.

00:24:15All it got from mom was one sentence.

00:24:16Not bad.

00:24:17The next message was a video mom sent of Chloe dancing.

00:24:19That afternoon, when I got home, I found a dusty letter among a pile of bills and flyers

00:24:24on the coffee table.

00:24:25It said,

00:24:26Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. Hayes.

00:24:28Your daughter, Mallory Hayes, has received an honorable mention in the National High School

00:24:32Mathematics Olympiad.

00:24:33Two months had passed.

00:24:35The envelope hadn't even been opened.

00:24:36It was tucked between bills and pizza courons.

00:24:39Completely forgotten.

00:24:40At dinner, mom answered a FaceTime call from my aunt.

00:24:43My aunt asked about Ethan's swim meet.

00:24:45Mom said he had taken second place in the district, pride filling her voice.

00:24:48My aunt asked about Chloe's dance competition.

00:24:51Mom said she had won gold at regionals, and the judges had praised how steady she was off

00:24:55dyes.

00:24:56How's Mallory?

00:24:57She's applying to college soon too, right?

00:25:00She's doing fine.

00:25:02Third in my grade, a National Math Olympiac Award.

00:25:05In mom's mouth, all of it became doing fine.

00:25:07I sat at the dining table, still holding the award letter that had been forgotten for two

00:25:11months.

00:25:12No one asked how I had been lately.

00:25:14No one turned to me and said, Mallory, what about you?

00:25:16I went back to my room, opened my laptop, and started looking up colleges that would actually

00:25:20care about competition backgrounds.

00:25:22In the end, I stopped at Carnegie Mellon.

00:25:24Hundreds of miles away from home, no one would remember me, only when they needed someone

00:25:27to pick up my sister.

00:25:29I opened the application page.

00:25:30My fingers hovered over the screen for three seconds before I finally closed it.

00:25:35I decided to try one more time.

00:25:37If they still couldn't see me this time, I would leave.

00:25:42Completely.

00:25:45Mallory, Ashley is coming to stay with us for a while.

00:25:49Give her your room and share with Chloe for now.

00:25:52Saturday morning, mom said it casually while changing shoes by the door.

00:25:56I was sitting at the dining table eating cereal.

00:25:59My spoon stopped in midair.

00:26:04Why my room?

00:26:05Your room gets the best natural light.

00:26:07Ashley hasn't been feeling well lately, and the doctor said more sunlight would be good

00:26:10for her.

00:26:11Ethan's room has a window, too.

00:26:13Your brother is a boy.

00:26:14Ashley is a girl.

00:26:15How could they share a room?

00:26:16Then let her stay with Chloe.

00:26:17Chloe needs space to stretch at night.

00:26:19Your room only has a bed and a desk.

00:26:21It's easy to clear out.

00:26:22How long is she staying?

00:26:23About half a month.

00:26:24Her summer program is over here.

00:26:25I didn't argue anymore.

00:26:27Experience had taught me a long time ago that arguing was useless.

00:26:30That afternoon, Ashley came in, dragging two large suitcases, smiling sweetly.

00:26:37Auntie, uncle.

00:26:39You're here.

00:26:40You're here.

00:26:40Come in.

00:26:42Mom was so warm, as if an important guest had arrived.

00:26:46Ashley pushed her suitcases into my room and looked around from the doorway.

00:26:50Auntie, can this bookshelf be moved out?

00:26:53I want to put a vanity mirror here.

00:26:55Of course.

00:26:57Mallory, move the bookshelf out.

00:26:59On my bookshelf were three years of notebooks, reference books, and a few certificates.

00:27:04It took me an hour to move everything into a corner of Chloe's room.

00:27:08That night, I laid a mattress on the floor of Chloe's room.

00:27:12Sis, why don't you sleep on the bed?

00:27:15I'll sleep on the floor.

00:27:17No, the floor is fine.

00:27:19Ashley is actually okay.

00:27:21Don't be upset.

00:27:23Ashley was never what upset me.

00:27:26What hurt was that in this house, I was always the one expected to give way.

00:27:32On the third day, I went back to my room to get review materials and opened the door to find

00:27:37Ashley flipping through my math competition notes.

00:27:39These are yours?

00:27:40Your handwriting is so neat.

00:27:42Yeah.

00:27:43Please put them back.

00:27:44I was just looking.

00:27:45You're way too protective of this stuff.

00:27:47She casually put the notebook back on the desk.

00:27:49I glanced over and suddenly realized one was missing.

00:27:52There was a blue one on the desk.

00:27:54Where is it?

00:27:54I didn't touch it.

00:27:55I didn't see it.

00:27:56I searched for ten minutes and finally found it in the trash can.

00:28:00Half the cover had been torn off, and several pages inside were soaked with coffee.

00:28:04The writing blurred into smears.

00:28:05It was the problem-solving notebook I had been organizing since freshman year.

00:28:09Three years.

00:28:10I only had that one copy.

00:28:11Ashley, this?

00:28:12Oh, maybe I knocked it over when I was carrying coffee.

00:28:15Just write another one.

00:28:16I stood in the doorway holding the drenched notebook, my hands shaking.

00:28:22I took the notebook back to Chloe's room and dried it page by page with a hair broyer.

00:28:29Where the writing was blurred, I slowly filled it back in with a pencil.

00:28:35I worked until one in the morning.

00:28:37The next morning, Ashley sat in my old seat, chatting happily with Mom.

00:28:41No one asked why the circles under my eyes were so dark, or what had happened last night.

00:28:46And I no longer needed to wait for that one last time.

00:28:49From that day on, I began preparing to leave.

00:28:52Until the day I received my acceptance letter, I knew the time had come to leave this house.

00:28:56I packed my suitcase and bought a Greyhouse ticket for the early dawn departure the next day.

00:29:01The destination was Pittsburgh.

00:29:02Then I walked to the door and placed my house key on the small entryway table.

00:29:06I left the group chat and deactivated my old phone number.

00:29:10The screen went dark.

00:29:12The whole world suddenly became much quieter.

00:29:16I pulled my suitcase, opened the door, and closed it softly behind me.

00:29:32That night, I laid a mattress on the floor of Chloe's room.

00:29:37Sis, why don't you sleep on the bed?

00:29:39I'll sleep on the floor.

00:29:41No, the floor is fine.

00:29:44Ashley is actually okay.

00:29:45Don't be upset.

00:29:47Ashley was never what upset me.

00:29:50What hurt was that in this house, I was always the one expected to give way.

00:29:57This family celebrates everyone's birthday.

00:30:00Everyone's but mine.

00:30:02Because my parents only love my twin siblings, Ethan and Chloe.

00:30:05They don't love me.

00:30:07When Ethan wants a birthday party, my parents book a private room at his favorite steakhouse a month in advance.

00:30:14When it's Chloe's turn and she wants to go to Six Flags, the whole family goes.

00:30:18Mom even posts nine photos on Instagram.

00:30:21But on my birthday, this house always treats it like any other day.

00:30:25I thought turning 18 would be different.

00:30:27That morning, I got up early on purpose, put on light makeup, and sat on the living room couch to

00:30:33wait.

00:30:34Mom walked past me on her way out, carrying Chloe's dance bag.

00:30:38Heat up your own lunch.

00:30:40I'm taking Chloe to her intensive class.

00:30:43Dad was watering tomatoes in the backyard.

00:30:46Ethan called him to go play basketball at the park, and the two of them left soon after.

00:30:52At noon, I was the only one left in the house.

00:30:54I sent a message in the family group chat.

00:30:57I'm 18 today.

00:30:59No one replied.

00:31:01At 7 that night, everybody came home.

00:31:03No one sang.

00:31:04No one felt like anything was missing.

00:31:07I was 18 now.

00:31:09At last, I could decide for myself where I wanted to go.

00:31:13Mallory, delete that message from the group chat.

00:31:16I almost missed Grandpa's voice message.

00:31:19Ethan didn't even look up.

00:31:21He tapped the edge of his plate, lightly with his dinner knife, signaling Mom to give him more ribs.

00:31:29I looked down at my phone.

00:31:31The message in the family chat, I'm 18 today, was still sitting there.

00:31:35No one had replied.

00:31:38Mom came over with a plate of garlic bread and set it in the middle of the table.

00:31:44All right.

00:31:45No phones at dinner.

00:31:48I looked at the food on the table.

00:31:50Ethan liked ribs.

00:31:52Chloe liked mac and cheese.

00:31:54Mom had made the salad for herself.

00:31:56Not a single dish was for me.

00:31:58I liked seafood.

00:32:00Grilled salmon was my favorite.

00:32:02I had said it so many times.

00:32:04No one in this family remembered.

00:32:09Dad, today...

00:32:10Dad set down his iced tea and glanced at me.

00:32:14The next second, he turned back to Ethan.

00:32:17How's your wrist from basketball this afternoon?

00:32:19Does the sprain still hurt?

00:32:21It's okay.

00:32:22Shoot.

00:32:22It aches a little when I shoot.

00:32:24I'll take you to a sports therapist tomorrow.

00:32:26My words died in midair.

00:32:29I finished dinner quietly and went to wash the dishes.

00:32:32I turned the faucet on high.

00:32:36From the living room came the sound of Chloe practicing ballet basics.

00:32:40Her toes landing against the floor one by one.

00:32:43Mom counted beats beside her.

00:32:44Ethan was playing Xbox in his room, shouting every few minutes.

00:32:48Dad was on the couch with his iPad.

00:32:50Everyone in this house had something of their own.

00:32:53Everyone had someone answering them.

00:32:56Except me.

00:32:59I stood in the kitchen, washing platelets and cups for five people.

00:33:04The water was loud.

00:33:05Loud enough that even if I cried, no one would hear.

00:33:09After the dishes, I went back to my room and shut the door.

00:33:12My phone lit up.

00:33:13It was a message in the class group chat.

00:33:15It was the only happy birthday I had received all day

00:33:17from a classmate I had known for less than a year.

00:33:20I replied, thank you.

00:33:22Then I opened my photo album and kept scrolling back.

00:33:24After I turned six, Mom's camera

00:33:26had almost completely turned toward them.

00:33:28Most of the photos were of them.

00:33:30I scrolled for a long time before I finally found one.

00:33:33It was from when I was nine

00:33:34and had entered the school speech contest.

00:33:37Mom had taken it from the audience.

00:33:39The photo was blurry.

00:33:40Only half my body was in it

00:33:42because the other half of the frame

00:33:44was Chloe in the front row,

00:33:46turning back toward the camera with a bright smile.

00:33:49I stood off stage in front of the microphone,

00:33:52my face barely visible.

00:33:54The phone screen dimmed

00:33:55and my face appeared in the black reflection.

00:33:59Eighteen-year-old Mallory Hayes

00:34:00had spent the whole morning

00:34:02putting on makeup,

00:34:03waited all day,

00:34:04and still hadn't gotten a single happy birthday.

00:34:07Mom's voice came from outside the door.

00:34:10Mallory, wake your sister at seven tomorrow morning.

00:34:14She has training at 8.30.

00:34:18Okay.

00:34:21Hey, sis.

00:34:22It's seven.

00:34:23Chloe had woken up on her own.

00:34:25She stood in my doorway in a pink leotard,

00:34:27her hair half-tied.

00:34:29I checked my phone.

00:34:306.53.

00:34:31My alarm hadn't even gone off.

00:34:34You got up by yourself?

00:34:35Yeah.

00:34:37I set an alarm.

00:34:38Mom told you to wake me,

00:34:40but I was afraid you didn't sleep well last night.

00:34:43She said it so casually,

00:34:44but the words still stung.

00:34:46She knew I hadn't slept well last night.

00:34:49I'll help you tie your hair.

00:34:51No, it's fine.

00:34:53I can do it.

00:34:56She turned and left.

00:34:59Chloe had always been like that with me.

00:35:01She wasn't cruel.

00:35:03She just wasn't close.

00:35:05She called me sis,

00:35:07but the word carried no weight.

00:35:10The twins had their own rhythm,

00:35:12and I had never been able to enter it.

00:35:14At breakfast, Mom was warming milk for Chloe.

00:35:17Ethan wasn't up yet.

00:35:19Mally, have you eaten?

00:35:21I have.

00:35:22I hadn't.

00:35:24She didn't even check whether there was a bowl I'd used on the table.

00:35:27She just nodded.

00:35:29Chloe, did you pack your water bottle?

00:35:31It's hot today.

00:35:32Drink more water.

00:35:33I did.

00:35:35I did.

00:35:35Mally, drive your sister there.

00:35:37She still doesn't know the stops near the training center.

00:35:40Chloe had been going to that training center for two years.

00:35:43Mom still said she didn't know the way.

00:35:46Okay.

00:35:47As we were leaving, Ethan finally got up and called from his doorway.

00:35:52Mom, what's for breakfast?

00:35:55I left you a bagel and yogurt on the table.

00:35:58A bagel and yogurt?

00:35:59Ethan's regular breakfast.

00:36:02No one had ever asked what I wanted in the morning.

00:36:05On the way to the training center,

00:36:07Chloe sat in the passenger seat scrolling through her phone.

00:36:11She wasn't trying to be cold.

00:36:13It just never occurred to her to talk to me.

00:36:19When she suddenly spoke, my palm tightened on the wheel.

00:36:24What?

00:36:25That message you sent in the group chat yesterday?

00:36:28Ethan told you to delete it?

00:36:31Yeah.

00:36:32Did you?

00:36:35No.

00:36:37She nodded, then lowered her head to look at her phone again.

00:36:40I waited for a long time, waiting for her to say,

00:36:43Happy birthday.

00:36:44She didn't.

00:36:46When we reached the training center, she unbuckled her seat belt.

00:36:49Sis, I'm here.

00:36:51Yeah.

00:36:52Train hard.

00:36:53Can you pick me up this afternoon?

00:36:55I finish at five.

00:36:56I have a study group this afternoon.

00:36:58That was a lie.

00:36:59I had nothing this afternoon.

00:37:01I just didn't want to go.

00:37:02Then I'll ask Mom to pick me up.

00:37:04Okay.

00:37:06At 4.50 that afternoon, Mom sent a message in the family group chat.

00:37:10Chloe finishes training at five.

00:37:12Who can pick her up?

00:37:13I'm in a meeting.

00:37:14I'm at a friend's house.

00:37:15Mallory, aren't you free this afternoon?

00:37:18I looked at that message.

00:37:20She started with who can pick her up, but in the end it still landed on me.

00:37:23It's on your way anyway, right?

00:37:25Just go pick her up.

00:37:26It wasn't on my way at all.

00:37:27But in this family, my road was always on the way.

00:37:30My time was always free.

00:37:32I typed okay and sent it.

00:37:34Then I turned my phone face down on the desk.

00:37:38Suddenly, I wondered, what would happen if one day I didn't reply with okay?

00:37:44If I turned off my phone, canceled my number, and disappeared too?

00:37:49Would they first panic because no one could pick up Chloe, or would they think of me first?

00:37:54I knew the answer.

00:37:56When I picked Chloe up, her face was flushed from training and her hair was damp.

00:38:00Sis, I'm thirsty.

00:38:02Where's your water bottle?

00:38:03Finished it.

00:38:04I handed her the spare bottle of water in the car.

00:38:07Thanks, sis.

00:38:09On the way home, she soon fell asleep against the window.

00:38:12I adjusted the air conditionings so the car wouldn't be so cold.

00:38:15She was the little princess everyone in the family revolved around.

00:38:18And most of the roads I had driven through this city had been for someone else, but not for much

00:38:22longer.

00:38:23Not long after, the school college counselor called me into her office.

00:38:27Mallory Hayes, I saw your awards record.

00:38:30Honorable Ments in the National Math Olympias.

00:38:32That's impressive.

00:38:33Awards like that carry real weight.

00:38:35Which schools are you considering for early applications?

00:38:37I'm still looking.

00:38:39What do your parents think?

00:38:40I haven't told them yet.

00:38:42Something this important, and you're not discussing it with your family first?

00:38:46I want to look into it myself first.

00:38:48I knew that even if I told them, no one would take it seriously.

00:38:51On last month's mock exam, I ranked third in the entire grade.

00:38:53I took a photo of my report card and sent it to the family group chat.

00:38:56My third place ranking stayed in the chat for only a very short while.

00:38:58All it got from mom was one sentence.

00:39:00Not bad.

00:39:00The next message was a video mom sent of Chloe dancing.

00:39:04That afternoon, when I got home, I found a dusty letter among a pile of bills and flyers on the

00:39:08coffee table.

00:39:09It said,

00:39:10Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. Hayes.

00:39:12Your daughter, Mallory Hayes, has received an honorable mention in the National High School Mathematics Olympiad.

00:39:17Two months had passed.

00:39:18The envelope hadn't even been opened.

00:39:20It was tucked between bills and pizza courons, completely forgotten.

00:39:24At dinner, mom answered a FaceTime call from my aunt.

00:39:26My aunt asked about Ethan's swim meet.

00:39:28Mom said he had taken second place in the district, pride filling her voice.

00:39:32My aunt asked about Chloe's dance competition.

00:39:34Mom said she had won gold at regionals, and the judges had praised how steady she was off dyes.

00:39:40How's Mallory?

00:39:40She's applying to college soon too, right?

00:39:42She's doing fine.

00:39:45Third in my grade, a National Math Olympiac Award.

00:39:49In mom's mouth, all of it became doing fine.

00:39:51I sat at the dining table, still holding the award letter that had been forgotten for two months.

00:39:55No one asked how I had been lately.

00:39:57No one turned to me and said, Mallory, what about you?

00:40:00I went back to my room, opened my laptop, and started looking up colleges that would actually care about competition

00:40:04backgrounds.

00:40:05In the end, I stopped at Carnegie Mellon.

00:40:08Hundreds of miles away from home, no one would remember me, only when they needed someone to pick up my

00:40:12sister.

00:40:12I opened the application page.

00:40:14My fingers hovered over the screen for three seconds before I finally closed it.

00:40:19I decided to try one more time.

00:40:21If they still couldn't see me this time, I would leave.

00:40:25Completely.

00:40:29Mallory, Ashley is coming to stay with us for a while.

00:40:33Give her your room and share with Chloe for now.

00:40:36Saturday morning, mom said it casually while changing shoes by the door.

00:40:39I was sitting at the dining table eating cereal.

00:40:42My spoon stopped in midair.

00:40:47Why my room?

00:40:49Your room gets the best natural light.

00:40:51Ashley hasn't been feeling well lately, and the doctor said more sunlight would be good for her.

00:40:55Ethan's room has a window, too.

00:40:57Your brother is a boy.

00:40:57Ashley is a girl.

00:40:58How could they share a room?

00:40:59Then let her stay with Chloe.

00:41:01Chloe needs space to stretch at night.

00:41:03Your room only has a bed and a desk.

00:41:05It's easy to clear out.

00:41:06How long is she staying?

00:41:07About half a month.

00:41:08Her summer program is over here.

00:41:09Okay.

00:41:09I didn't argue anymore.

00:41:11Experience had taught me a long time ago that arguing was useless.

00:41:14That afternoon, Ashley came in dragging two large suitcases, smiling sweetly.

00:41:21Auntie, uncle.

00:41:23You're here.

00:41:24Come in.

00:41:25Mom was so warm, as if an important guest had arrived.

00:41:29Ashley pushed her suitcases into my room and looked around from the doorway.

00:41:34Auntie, can this bookshelf be moved out?

00:41:36I want to put a vanity mirror here.

00:41:39Of course.

00:41:40Mallory, move the bookshelf out.

00:41:43On my bookshelf were three years of notebooks, reference books, and a few certificates.

00:41:48It took me an hour to move everything into a corner of Chloe's room.

00:41:51That night, I laid a mattress on the floor of Chloe's room.

00:41:56Sis, why don't you sleep on the bed?

00:41:58I'll sleep on the floor.

00:42:00No, the floor is fine.

00:42:03Ashley is actually okay.

00:42:05Don't be upset.

00:42:07Ashley was never what upset me.

00:42:10What hurt was that in this house, I was always the one expected to give way.

00:42:16On the third day, I went back to my room to get review materials and opened the door

00:42:20to find Ashley flipping through my math competition notes.

00:42:23These are yours?

00:42:24Your handwriting is so neat.

00:42:26Yeah.

00:42:27Please put them back.

00:42:28I was just looking.

00:42:29You're way too protective of this stuff.

00:42:31She casually put the notebook back on the desk.

00:42:33I glanced over and suddenly realized one was missing.

00:42:36There was a blue one on the desk.

00:42:37Where is it?

00:42:38I didn't touch it.

00:42:39I didn't see it.

00:42:40I searched for ten minutes and finally found it in the trash can.

00:42:43Half the cover had been torn off and several pages inside were soaked with coffee.

00:42:48The writing blurred into smears.

00:42:49It was the problem-solving notebook I had been organizing since freshman year.

00:42:52Three years.

00:42:53I only had that one copy.

00:42:55Ashley, this?

00:42:56Oh, maybe I knocked it over when I was carrying coffee.

00:42:58Just write another one.

00:42:59I stood in the doorway holding the drenched notebook, my hands shaking.

00:43:06I took the notebook back to Chloe's room and dried it page by page with a hair broyer.

00:43:12Where the writing was blurred.

00:43:14Where the writing was blurred, I slowly filled it back in with a pencil.

00:43:46I worked until one in the morning.

00:43:47I walked into the door and placed my house key on the small entryway table.

00:43:50I left the group chat and deactivated my old phone number.

00:43:54The screen went dark.

00:43:55The whole world suddenly became much quieter.

00:43:59I pulled my suitcase, opened the door, and closed it softly behind me.

00:44:16That night, I laid a mattress on the floor of Chloe's room.

00:44:20Sis, why don't you sleep on the bed?

00:44:23I'll sleep on the floor.

00:44:25No, the floor is fine.

00:44:27Ashley is actually okay.

00:44:29Don't be upset.

00:44:31Ashley was never what upset me.

00:44:34What hurt was that in this house, I was always the one expected to give way.

00:44:41This family celebrates everyone's birthday.

00:44:44Everyone's but mine.

00:44:45Because my parents only love my twin siblings, Ethan and Chloe.

00:44:49They don't love me.

00:44:51When Ethan wants a birthday party,

00:44:52my parents book a private room at his favorite steakhouse a month in advance.

00:44:57When it's Chloe's turn and she wants to go to Six Flags,

00:45:00the whole family goes.

00:45:02Mom even posts nine photos on Instagram.

00:45:04But on my birthday, this house always treats it like any other day.

00:45:08I thought turning 18 would be different.

00:45:11That morning, I got up early on purpose, put on light makeup, and sat on the living room couch to

00:45:17wait.

00:45:18Mom walked past me on her way out, carrying Chloe's dance bag.

00:45:22Heat up your own lunch.

00:45:23I'm taking Chloe to her intensive class.

00:45:26Dad was watering tomatoes in the backyard.

00:45:30Ethan called him to go play basketball at the park,

00:45:33and the two of them left soon after.

00:45:35At noon, I was the only one left in the house.

00:45:38I sent a message in the family group chat.

00:45:41I'm 18 today.

00:45:43No one replied.

00:45:44At seven that night, everybody came home.

00:45:47No one sang.

00:45:48No one felt like anything was missing.

00:45:51I was 18 now.

00:45:52At last, I could decide for myself where I wanted to go.

00:45:56Mallory, delete that message from the group chat.

00:46:00I almost missed Grandpa's voice message.

00:46:02Ethan didn't even look up.

00:46:05He tapped the edge of his plate, lightly with his dinner knife,

00:46:09signaling Mom to give him more ribs.

00:46:12I looked down at my phone.

00:46:14The message in the family chat,

00:46:16I'm 18 today, was still sitting there.

00:46:19No one had replied.

00:46:22Mom came over with a plate of garlic bread

00:46:24and set it in the middle of the table.

00:46:28All right.

00:46:29No phones at dinner.

00:46:32I looked at the food on the table.

00:46:34Ethan liked ribs.

00:46:36Chloe liked mac and cheese.

00:46:38Mom had made the salad for herself.

00:46:40Not a single dish was for me.

00:46:41I liked seafood.

00:46:44Grilled salmon was my favorite.

00:46:46I had said it so many times.

00:46:48No one in this family remembered.

00:46:52Dad, today...

00:46:53Dad set down his iced tea and glanced at me.

00:46:58The next second, he turned back to Ethan.

00:47:00How's your wrist from basketball this afternoon?

00:47:03Does the sprain still hurt?

00:47:04It's okay.

00:47:06Shoot.

00:47:06It aches a little when I shoot.

00:47:08I'll take you to a sports therapist tomorrow.

00:47:10My words died in midair.

00:47:13I finished dinner quietly and went to wash the dishes.

00:47:16I turned the faucet on high.

00:47:20From the living room came the sound of Chloe practicing ballet basics.

00:47:24Her toes landing against the floor one by one.

00:47:26Mom counted beats beside her.

00:47:28Ethan was playing Xbox in his room, shouting every few minutes.

00:47:32Dad was on the couch with his iPad.

00:47:34Everyone in this house had something of their own.

00:47:36Everyone had someone answering them.

00:47:40Except me.

00:47:42I stood in the kitchen, washing platelets and cups for five people.

00:47:48The water was loud.

00:47:49Loud enough that even if I cried, no one would hear.

00:47:52After the dishes, I went back to my room and shut the door.

00:47:56My phone lit up.

00:47:57It was a message in the class group chat.

00:47:59It was the only happy birthday I had received all day from a classmate I had known for less than

00:48:03a year.

00:48:04I replied, thank you.

00:48:05Then I opened my photo album and kept scrolling back.

00:48:08After I turned six, Mom's camera had almost completely turned toward them.

00:48:12Most of the photos were of them.

00:48:14I scrolled for a long time before I finally found one.

00:48:16It was from when I was nine and had entered the school speech contest.

00:48:21Mom had taken it from the audience.

00:48:22The photo was blurry.

00:48:24Only half my body was in it because the other half of the frame was Chloe in the front row,

00:48:29turning back toward the camera with a bright smile.

00:48:32I stood off stage in front of the microphone, my face barely visible.

00:48:38The phone screen dimmed and my face appeared in the black reflection.

00:48:43Eighteen-year-old Mallory Hayes had spent the whole morning putting on makeup, waited all day, and still hadn't gotten

00:48:49a single happy birthday.

00:48:50Mom's voice came from outside the door.

00:48:54Mallory, wake your sister at seven tomorrow morning.

00:48:58She has training at 8.30.

00:49:02Okay.

00:49:05Hey sis, it's seven.

00:49:07Chloe had woken up on her own.

00:49:09She stood in my doorway in a pink leotard, her hair half-tied.

00:49:13I checked my phone.

00:49:146.53.

00:49:15My alarm hadn't even gone off.

00:49:17You got up by yourself?

00:49:19Yeah.

00:49:20I set an alarm.

00:49:22Mom told you to wake me, but I was afraid you didn't sleep well last night.

00:49:26She said it so casually, but the words still stung.

00:49:30She knew I hadn't slept well last night.

00:49:32I'll help you tie your hair.

00:49:35No, it's fine.

00:49:36I can do it.

00:49:39She turned and left.

00:49:42Chloe had always been like that with me.

00:49:45She wasn't cruel.

00:49:46She just wasn't close.

00:49:49She called me sis, but the word carried no weight.

00:49:53The twins had their own rhythm, and I had never been able to enter it.

00:49:58At breakfast, Mom was warming milk for Chloe.

00:50:01Ethan wasn't up yet.

00:50:03Mally, have you eaten?

00:50:05I have.

00:50:06I hadn't.

00:50:08She didn't even check whether there was a bowl I'd used on the table.

00:50:11She just nodded.

00:50:12Chloe, did you pack your water bottle?

00:50:14It's hot today.

00:50:15Drink more water.

00:50:17I did.

00:50:19Mally, drive your sister there.

00:50:20She still doesn't know the stops near the training center.

00:50:24Chloe had been going to that training center for two years.

00:50:27Mom still said she didn't know the way.

00:50:30Okay.

00:50:31As we were leaving, Ethan finally got up and called from his doorway.

00:50:36Mom, what's for breakfast?

00:50:39I left you a bagel and yogurt on the table.

00:50:41A bagel and yogurt?

00:50:43Ethan's regular breakfast.

00:50:46No one had ever asked what I wanted in the morning.

00:50:49On the way to the training center,

00:50:51Chloe sat in the passenger seat scrolling through her phone.

00:50:55She wasn't trying to be cold.

00:50:57It just never occurred to her to talk to me.

00:51:03When she suddenly spoke, my palm tightened on the wheel.

00:51:08What?

00:51:09That message you sent in the group chat yesterday?

00:51:12Ethan told you to delete it?

00:51:14Yeah.

00:51:16Did you?

00:51:19No.

00:51:20She nodded, then lowered her head to look at her phone again.

00:51:23I waited for a long time, waiting for her to say,

00:51:26Happy Birthday.

00:51:28She didn't.

00:51:29When we reached the training center, she unbuckled her seatbelt.

00:51:33Sis, I'm here.

00:51:35Yeah.

00:51:36Train hard.

00:51:37Can you pick me up this afternoon?

00:51:38I finish at five.

00:51:39I have a study group this afternoon.

00:51:42That was a lie.

00:51:43I had nothing this afternoon.

00:51:45I just didn't want to go.

00:51:46Then I'll ask Mom to pick me up.

00:51:48Okay.

00:51:49At 4.50 that afternoon, Mom sent a message in the family group chat.

00:51:54Chloe finishes training at five.

00:51:56Who can pick her up?

00:51:57I'm in a meeting.

00:51:58I'm at a friend's house.

00:51:59Mallory, aren't you free this afternoon?

00:52:01I looked at that message.

00:52:03She started with who can pick her up, but in the end it still landed on me.

00:52:07It's on your way anyway, right?

00:52:09Just go pick her up.

00:52:10It wasn't on my way at all, but in this family, my road was always on the way.

00:52:13My time was always free.

00:52:15I typed okay and sent it.

00:52:17Then I turned my phone face down on the desk.

00:52:22Suddenly, I wondered, what would happen if one day I didn't reply with okay?

00:52:28If I turned off my phone, canceled my number, and disappeared too, would they first panic

00:52:34because no one could pick up Chloe, or would they think of me first?

00:52:38I knew the answer.

00:52:39When I picked Chloe up, her face was flushed from training and her hair was damp.

00:52:44Sis, I'm thirsty.

00:52:46Where's your water bottle?

00:52:47Finished it.

00:52:48I handed her the spare bottle of water in the car.

00:52:51Thanks, sis.

00:52:52Mmm.

00:52:53On the way home, she soon fell asleep against the window.

00:52:56I adjusted the air conditionings so the car wouldn't be so cold.

00:52:58She was the little princess everyone in the family revolved around,

00:53:01and most of the roads I had driven through this city had been for someone else,

00:53:05but not for much longer.

00:53:07Not long after, the school college counselor called me into her office.

00:53:10Mallory Hayes, I saw your awards record.

00:53:13Honorable Ments in the National Math Olympias.

00:53:16That's impressive.

00:53:17Awards like that carry real weight.

00:53:19Which schools are you considering for early applications?

00:53:21I'm still looking.

00:53:22What do your parents think?

00:53:24I haven't told them yet.

00:53:25Something this important, and you're not discussing it with your family first?

00:53:29I want to look into it myself first.

00:53:31I knew that even if I told them, no one would take it seriously.

00:53:34On last month's mock examine, I ranked third in the entire grade.

00:53:37I took a photo of my report card and sent it to the family group chat.

00:53:40My third place ranking stayed in the chat for only a very short while.

00:53:42All it got from mom was one sentence.

00:53:44Not bad.

00:53:44The next message was a video mom sent of Chloe dancing.

00:53:47That afternoon, when I got home, I found a dusty letter among a pile of bills and flyers

00:53:52on the coffee table.

00:53:53It said,

00:53:54Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. Hayes.

00:53:55Your daughter, Mallory Hayes, has received an honorable mention in the National High School

00:53:59Mathematics Olympiad.

00:54:01Two months had passed.

00:54:02The envelope hadn't even been opened.

00:54:04It was tucked between bills and pizza courons.

00:54:06Completely forgotten.

00:54:07At dinner, mom answered a FaceTime call from my aunt.

00:54:10My aunt asked about Ethan's swim meet.

00:54:12Mom said he had taken second place in the district, pride filling her voice.

00:54:16My aunt asked about Chloe's dance competition.

00:54:18Mom said she had won gold at regionals, and the judges had praised how steady she was off

00:54:22dyes.

00:54:23How's Mallory?

00:54:24She's applying to college soon too, right?

00:54:28She's doing fine.

00:54:29Third in my grade, a National Math Olympiac Award.

00:54:32In mom's mouth, all of it became doing fine.

00:54:35I sat at the dining table, still holding the award letter that had been forgotten for two

00:54:38months.

00:54:39No one asked how I had been lately.

00:54:41No one turned to me and said, Mallory, what about you?

00:54:43I went back to my room, opened my laptop, and started looking up colleges that would actually

00:54:47care about competition backgrounds.

00:54:49In the end, I stopped at Carnegie Mellon.

00:54:51Hundreds of miles away from home, no one would remember me, only when they needed someone

00:54:55to pick up my sister.

00:54:56I opened the application page.

00:54:58My fingers hovered over the screen for three seconds before I finally closed it.

00:55:03I decided to try one more time.

00:55:05If they still couldn't see me this time, I would leave.

00:55:09Completely.

00:55:12Mallory, Ashley is coming to stay with us for a while.

00:55:17Give her your room and share with Chloe for now.

00:55:19Saturday morning, mom said it casually while changing shoes by the door.

00:55:23I was sitting at the dining table eating cereal.

00:55:26My spoon stopped in midair.

00:55:31Why my room?

00:55:32Your room gets the best natural light.

00:55:35Ashley hasn't been feeling well lately, and the doctor said more sunlight would be good

00:55:38for her.

00:55:38Ethan's room has a window, too.

00:55:40Your brother is a boy.

00:55:41Ashley is a girl.

00:55:42How could they share a room?

00:55:43Then let her stay with Chloe.

00:55:45Chloe needs space to stretch at night.

00:55:47Your room only has a bed and a desk.

00:55:48It's easy to clear out.

00:55:49How long is she staying?

00:55:50About half a month.

00:55:51Her summer program is over here.

00:55:53I didn't argue anymore.

00:55:54Experience had taught me a long time ago that arguing was useless.

00:55:58That afternoon, Ashley came in dragging two large suitcases, smiling sweetly.

00:56:05Auntie, uncle.

00:56:06You're here.

00:56:07You're here.

00:56:08Come in.

00:56:09Mom was so warm, as if an important guest had arrived.

00:56:13Ashley pushed her suitcases into my room and looked around from the doorway.

00:56:17Auntie, can this bookshelf be moved out?

00:56:20I want to put a vanity mirror here.

00:56:22Of course.

00:56:24Mallory, move the bookshelf out.

00:56:26On my bookshelf were three years of notebooks, reference books, and a few certificates.

00:56:31It took me an hour to move everything into a corner of Chloe's room.

00:56:35That night, I laid a mattress on the floor of Chloe's room.

00:56:40Sis, why don't you sleep on the bed?

00:56:42I'll sleep on the floor.

00:56:44No, the floor is fine.

00:56:47Ashley is actually okay.

00:56:48Don't be upset.

00:56:51Ashley was never what upset me.

00:56:53What hurt was that in this house, I was always the one expected to give way.

00:57:00On the third day, I went back to my room to get review materials

00:57:03and opened the door to find Ashley flipping through my math competition notes.

00:57:07These are yours?

00:57:08Your handwriting is so neat.

00:57:10Yeah.

00:57:10Please put them back.

00:57:11I was just looking.

00:57:13You're way too protective of this stuff.

00:57:14She casually put the notebook back on the desk.

00:57:17I glanced over and suddenly realized one was missing.

00:57:20There was a blue one on the desk.

00:57:21Where is it?

00:57:21I didn't touch it.

00:57:22I didn't see it.

00:57:24I searched for ten minutes and finally found it in the trash can.

00:57:27Half the cover had been torn off,

00:57:29and several pages inside were soaked with coffee.

00:57:31The writing blurred into smears.

00:57:33It was the problem-solving notebook I had been organizing since freshman year.

00:57:36Three years.

00:57:37I only had that one copy.

00:57:39Ashley, this?

00:57:40Oh, maybe I knocked it over when I was carrying coffee.

00:57:42Just write another one.

00:57:43I stood in the doorway holding the drenched notebook,

00:57:45my hands shaking.

00:57:50I took the notebook back to Chloe's room and dried it page by page with a hair broyer.

00:57:56Where the writing was blurred, I slowly filled it back in with a pencil.

00:58:03I worked until one in the morning.

00:58:05The next morning, Ashley sat in my old seat, chatting happily with Mom.

00:58:09No one asked why the circles under my eyes were so dark, or what had happened last night.

00:58:13And I no longer needed to wait for that one last time.

00:58:17From that day on, I began preparing to leave.

00:58:19Until the day I received my acceptance letter, I knew the time had come to leave this house.

00:58:24I packed my suitcase and bought a Greyhouse ticket for the early dawn departure the next day.

00:58:28The destination was Pittsburgh.

00:58:30Then I walked to the door and placed my house key on the small entryway table.

00:58:33I left the group chat and deactivated my old phone number.

00:58:37The screen went dark.

00:58:39The whole world suddenly became much quieter.

00:58:43I pulled my suitcase, opened the door, and closed it softly behind me.

00:58:59That night, I laid a mattress on the floor of Chloe's room.

00:59:04Sis, why don't you sleep on the bed? I'll sleep on the floor.

00:59:08No, the floor is fine.

00:59:11Ashley is actually okay. Don't be upset.

00:59:15Ashley was never what upset me.

00:59:18What hurt was that in this house, I was always the one expected to give way.

00:59:24This family celebrates everyone's birthday.

00:59:28Everyone's but mine.

00:59:29Because my parents only love my twin siblings, Ethan and Chloe.

00:59:33They don't love me.

00:59:34When Ethan wants a birthday party, my parents book a private room at his favorite steakhouse a month in advance.

00:59:41When it's Chloe's turn and she wants to go to Six Flags, the whole family goes.

00:59:45Mom even posts nine photos on Instagram.

00:59:48But on my birthday, this house always treats it like any other day.

00:59:52I thought turning 18 would be different.

00:59:55That morning, I got up early on purpose, put on light makeup, and sat on the living room couch to

01:00:01wait.

01:00:02Mom walked past me on her way out, carrying Chloe's dance bag.

01:00:06Heat up your own lunch.

01:00:07I'm taking Chloe to her intensive class.

01:00:10Dad was watering tomatoes in the backyard.

01:00:13Ethan called him to go play basketball at the park, and the two of them left soon after.

01:00:19At noon, I was the only one left in the house.

01:00:22I sent a message in the family group chat.

01:00:24I'm 18 today.

01:00:26No one replied.

01:00:28At 7 that night, everybody came home.

01:00:30No one sang.

01:00:31No one felt like anything was missing.

01:00:34I was 18 now.

01:00:36At last, I could decide for myself where I wanted to go.

01:00:40Mallory, delete that message from the group chat.

01:00:43I almost missed Grandpa's voice message.

01:00:46Ethan didn't even look up.

01:00:48He tapped the edge of his plate, lightly with his dinner knife,

01:00:53signaling Mom to give him more ribs.

01:00:56I looked down at my phone.

01:00:58The message in the family chat,

01:01:00I'm 18 today, was still sitting there.

01:01:03No one had replied.

01:01:05Mom came over with a plate of garlic bread

01:01:07and set it in the middle of the table.

01:01:11All right.

01:01:13No phones at dinner.

01:01:15I looked at the food on the table.

01:01:18Ethan liked ribs.

01:01:19Chloe liked mac and cheese.

01:01:21Mom had made the salad for herself.

01:01:23Not a single dish was for me.

01:01:25I liked seafood.

01:01:28Grilled salmon was my favorite.

01:01:30I had said it so many times.

01:01:32No one in this family remembered.

01:01:36Dad, today...

01:01:38Dad set down his iced tea and glanced at me.

01:01:41The next second, he turned back to Ethan.

01:01:44How's your wrist from basketball this afternoon?

01:01:46Does the sprain still hurt?

01:01:48It's okay.

01:01:49Shoot.

01:01:50It aches a little when I shoot.

01:01:51I'll take you to a sports therapist tomorrow.

01:01:53My words died in midair.

01:01:56I finished dinner quietly and went to wash the dishes.

01:02:00I turned the faucet on high.

01:02:04From the living room came the sound of Chloe practicing ballet basics,

01:02:07her toes landing against the floor one by one.

01:02:10Mom counted beats beside her.

01:02:12Ethan was playing Xbox in his room, shouting every few minutes.

01:02:15Dad was on the couch with his iPad.

01:02:17Everyone in this house had something of their own.

01:02:20Everyone had someone answering them.

01:02:24Except me.

01:02:26I stood in the kitchen, washing platelets and cups for five people.

01:02:31The water was loud.

01:02:33Loud enough that even if I cried, no one would hear.

01:02:36After the dishes, I went back to my room and shut the door.

01:02:39My phone lit up.

01:02:40It was a message in the class group chat.

01:02:42It was the only happy birthday I had received all day

01:02:45from a classmate I had known for less than a year.

01:02:47I replied, thank you.

01:02:49Then I opened my photo album and kept scrolling back.

01:02:52After I turned six, Mom's camera had almost completely turned toward them.

01:02:56Most of the photos were of them.

01:02:57I scrolled for a long time before I finally found one.

01:03:00It was from when I was nine and had entered the school speech contest.

01:03:04Mom had taken it from the audience.

01:03:06The photo was blurry.

01:03:08Only half my body was in it, because the other half of the frame was Chloe in the front row,

01:03:13turning back toward the camera with a bright smile.

01:03:16I stood offstage in front of the microphone, my face barely visible.

01:03:21The phone screen dimmed, and my face appeared in the black reflection.

01:03:26Eighteen-year-old Mallory Hayes had spent the whole morning putting on makeup,

01:03:30waited all day, and still hadn't gotten a single happy birthday.

01:03:34Mom's voice came from outside the door.

01:03:38Mallory, wake your sister at seven tomorrow morning.

01:03:42She has training at 8.30.

01:03:50Chloe had woken up on her own.

01:03:52She stood in my doorway in a pink leotard, her hair half-tied.

01:03:56I checked my phone.

01:03:586.53.

01:03:59My alarm hadn't even gone off.

01:04:01You got up by yourself?

01:04:03Yeah.

01:04:04I set an alarm.

01:04:06Mom told you to wake me, but I was afraid you didn't sleep well last night.

01:04:10She said it so casually, but the words still stung.

01:04:13She knew I hadn't slept well last night.

01:04:16I'll help you tie your hair.

01:04:18No, it's fine.

01:04:20I can do it.

01:04:23She turned and left.

01:04:26Chloe had always been like that with me.

01:04:28She wasn't cruel.

01:04:30She just wasn't close.

01:04:33She called me sis, but the word carried no weight.

01:04:37The twins had their own rhythm, and I had never been able to enter it.

01:04:41At breakfast, Mom was warming milk for Chloe.

01:04:44Ethan wasn't up yet.

01:04:47Mallie, have you eaten?

01:04:49I have.

01:04:50I hadn't.

01:04:51She didn't even check whether there was a bowl I'd used on the table.

01:04:54She just nodded.

01:04:56Chloe, did you pack your water bottle?

01:04:58It's hot today.

01:04:59Drink more water.

01:05:01I did.

01:05:02Mallie, drive your sister there.

01:05:04She still doesn't know the stops near the training center.

01:05:07Chloe had been going to that training center for two years.

01:05:11Mom still said she didn't know the way.

01:05:14Okay.

01:05:15As we were leaving, Ethan finally got up and called from his doorway.

01:05:19Mom, what's for breakfast?

01:05:22I left you a bagel and yogurt on the table.

01:05:25A bagel and yogurt?

01:05:27Ethan's regular breakfast.

01:05:29No one had ever asked what I wanted in the morning.

01:05:32On the way to the training center,

01:05:35Chloe sat in the passenger seat scrolling through her phone.

01:05:38She wasn't trying to be cold.

01:05:40It just never occurred to her to talk to me.

01:05:47When she suddenly spoke, my palm tightened on the wheel.

01:05:51What?

01:05:53That message you sent in the group chat yesterday?

01:05:55Ethan told you to delete it?

01:05:58Yeah.

01:06:00Did you?

01:06:02No.

01:06:04She nodded, then lowered her head to look at her phone again.

01:06:07I waited for a long time, waiting for her to say,

01:06:10Happy Birthday.

01:06:11She didn't.

01:06:13When we reached the training center, she unbuckled her seatbelt.

01:06:17Sis, I'm here.

01:06:19Yeah.

01:06:20Train hard.

01:06:21Can you pick me up this afternoon?

01:06:22I finish at five.

01:06:23I have a study group this afternoon.

01:06:25That was a lie.

01:06:27I had nothing this afternoon.

01:06:28I just didn't want to go.

01:06:30Then I'll ask Mom to pick me up.

01:06:31Okay.

01:06:33At 4.50 that afternoon,

01:06:35Mom sent a message in the family group chat.

01:06:38Chloe finishes training at five.

01:06:40Who can pick her up?

01:06:41I'm in a meeting.

01:06:42I'm at a friend's house.

01:06:43Mallory, aren't you free this afternoon?

01:06:45I looked at that message.

01:06:47She started with who can pick her up,

01:06:49but in the end it still landed on me.

01:06:51It's on your way anyway, right?

01:06:52Just go pick her up.

01:06:53It wasn't on my way at all,

01:06:55but in this family, my road was always on the way.

01:06:57My time was always free.

01:06:59I typed okay and sent it.

01:07:01Then I turned my phone face down on the desk.

01:07:05Suddenly, I wondered what would happen

01:07:09if one day I didn't reply with okay?

01:07:12If I turned off my phone,

01:07:14canceled my number, and disappeared too,

01:07:17would they first panic

01:07:18because no one could pick up Chloe,

01:07:20or would they think of me first?

01:07:22I knew the answer.

01:07:23When I picked Chloe up,

01:07:24her face was flushed from training

01:07:26and her hair was damp.

01:07:28Sis, I'm thirsty.

01:07:29Where's your water bottle?

01:07:31Finished it.

01:07:32I handed her the spare bottle of water in the car.

01:07:34Thanks, sis.

01:07:36On the way home,

01:07:38she soon fell asleep against the window.

01:07:39I adjusted the air conditionings

01:07:41so the car wouldn't be so cold.

01:07:42She was the little princess

01:07:43everyone in the family revolved around,

01:07:45and most of the roads

01:07:46I had driven through this city

01:07:47had been for someone else,

01:07:48but not for much longer.

01:07:50Not long after,

01:07:52the school college counselor

01:07:53called me into her office.

01:07:55Mallory Hayes,

01:07:55I saw your awards record.

01:07:57Honorable Ments

01:07:58in the National Math Olympias.

01:07:59That's impressive.

01:08:01Awards like that carry real weight.

01:08:02Which schools are you considering

01:08:04for early applications?

01:08:05I'm still looking.

01:08:06What do your parents think?

01:08:07I haven't told them yet.

01:08:09Something this important,

01:08:10and you're not discussing it

01:08:11with your family first?

01:08:13I want to look into it myself first.

01:08:15I knew that even if I told them,

01:08:17no one would take it seriously.

01:08:18On last month's mock examine,

01:08:19I ranked third in the entire grade.

01:08:21I took a photo of my report card

01:08:22and sent it to the family group chat.

01:08:23My third place ranking

01:08:24stayed in the chat

01:08:25for only a very short while.

01:08:26All it got from mom

01:08:27was one sentence.

01:08:27Not bad.

01:08:28The next message

01:08:29was a video mom sent

01:08:30of Chloe dancing.

01:08:31That afternoon,

01:08:32when I got home,

01:08:33I found a dusty letter

01:08:34among a pile of bills and flyers

01:08:35on the coffee table.

01:08:36It said,

01:08:37Congratulations,

01:08:38Mr. and Mrs. Hayes.

01:08:39Your daughter,

01:08:40Mallory Hayes,

01:08:41has received an honorable mention

01:08:42in the National High School

01:08:43Mathematics Olympiad.

01:08:44Two months had passed.

01:08:46The envelope hadn't even been opened.

01:08:47It was tucked between bills

01:08:48and pizza courons,

01:08:50completely forgotten.

01:08:51At dinner,

01:08:52mom answered a FaceTime call

01:08:53from my aunt.

01:08:54My aunt asked about

01:08:55Ethan's swim meet.

01:08:56Mom said he had taken

01:08:57second place in the district,

01:08:58pride filling her voice.

01:09:00My aunt asked about

01:09:00Chloe's dance competition.

01:09:02Mom said she had won gold

01:09:03at regionals,

01:09:04and the judges had praised

01:09:05how steady she was off dyes.

01:09:07How's Mallory?

01:09:08She's applying to college

01:09:09soon too, right?

01:09:11She's doing fine.

01:09:13Third in my grade,

01:09:14a National Math Olympiac Award.

01:09:16In mom's mouth,

01:09:17all of it became

01:09:17doing fine.

01:09:18I sat at the dining table,

01:09:20still holding the award letter

01:09:21that had been forgotten

01:09:22for two months.

01:09:23No one asked

01:09:23how I had been lately.

01:09:25No one turned to me and said,

01:09:26Mallory, what about you?

01:09:27I went back to my room,

01:09:28opened my laptop,

01:09:29and started looking up colleges

01:09:30that would actually care

01:09:31about competition backgrounds.

01:09:32In the end,

01:09:33I stopped at Carnegie Mellon.

01:09:35Hundreds of miles away from home,

01:09:36no one would remember me,

01:09:38only when they needed someone

01:09:38to pick up my sister.

01:09:40I opened the application page.

01:09:42My fingers hovered over the screen

01:09:43for three seconds

01:09:44before I finally closed it.

01:09:46I decided to try one more time.

01:09:49If they still couldn't see me this time,

01:09:51I would leave.

01:09:53Completely.

01:09:56Mallory,

01:09:57Ashley is coming to stay

01:09:58with us for a while.

01:10:00Give her your room

01:10:01and share with Chloe for now.

01:10:03Saturday morning,

01:10:04mom said it casually

01:10:05while changing shoes by the door.

01:10:07I was sitting at the dining table

01:10:09eating cereal.

01:10:10My spoon stopped in midair.

01:10:15Why my room?

01:10:16Your room gets the best natural light.

01:10:18Ashley hasn't been feeling well lately,

01:10:20and the doctor said more sunlight

01:10:21would be good for her.

01:10:22Ethan's room has a window, too.

01:10:24Your brother is a boy.

01:10:25Ashley is a girl.

01:10:26How could they share a room?

01:10:27Then let her stay with Chloe.

01:10:28Chloe needs space to stretch at night.

01:10:30Your room only has a bed and a desk.

01:10:32It's easy to clear out.

01:10:33How long is she staying?

01:10:34About half a month.

01:10:35Her summer program is over here.

01:10:36I didn't argue anymore.

01:10:38Experience had taught me a long time ago

01:10:40that arguing was useless.

01:10:41That afternoon,

01:10:43Ashley came in dragging

01:10:44two large suitcases,

01:10:45smiling sweetly.

01:10:48Auntie, uncle?

01:10:50You're here!

01:10:51You're here!

01:10:51Come in!

01:10:53Mom was so warm,

01:10:54as if an important guest had arrived.

01:10:57Ashley pushed her suitcases

01:10:58into my room

01:10:59and looked around from the doorway.

01:11:01Auntie,

01:11:02can this bookshelf be moved out?

01:11:04I want to put a vanity mirror here.

01:11:06Of course.

01:11:08Mallory,

01:11:08move the bookshelf out.

01:11:10On my bookshelf

01:11:11were three years of notebooks,

01:11:13reference books,

01:11:13and a few certificates.

01:11:15It took me an hour

01:11:16to move everything

01:11:17into a corner of Chloe's room.

01:11:19That night,

01:11:20I laid a mattress

01:11:21on the floor of Chloe's room.

01:11:23Sis,

01:11:24why don't you sleep on the bed?

01:11:26I'll sleep on the floor.

01:11:28No,

01:11:28the floor is fine.

01:11:30Ashley is actually okay.

01:11:32Don't be upset.

01:11:34Ashley was never

01:11:35what upset me.

01:11:37What hurt

01:11:38was that in this house,

01:11:39I was always the one

01:11:41expected to give way.

01:11:43On the third day,

01:11:45I went back to my room

01:11:45to get review materials

01:11:46and opened the door

01:11:47to find Ashley

01:11:48flipping through

01:11:49my math competition notes.

01:11:50These are yours?

01:11:51Your handwriting is so neat.

01:11:53Yeah.

01:11:54Please put them back.

01:11:55I was just looking.

01:11:56You're way too protective

01:11:57of this stuff.

01:11:58She casually put the notebook

01:11:59back on the desk.

01:12:00I glanced over

01:12:01and suddenly realized

01:12:02one was missing.

01:12:03There was a blue one

01:12:04on the desk.

01:12:05Where is it?

01:12:05I didn't touch it.

01:12:06I didn't see it.

01:12:07I searched for 10 minutes

01:12:09and finally found it

01:12:10in the trash can.

01:12:11Half the cover

01:12:12had been torn off

01:12:13and several pages inside

01:12:14were soaked with coffee.

01:12:15The writing blurred

01:12:16into smears.

01:12:16It was the problem-solving notebook

01:12:18I had been organizing

01:12:19since freshman year.

01:12:20Three years.

01:12:21I only had that one copy.

01:12:22Ashley,

01:12:23this?

01:12:24Oh,

01:12:24maybe I knocked it over

01:12:25when I was carrying coffee.

01:12:26Just write another one.

01:12:27I stood in the doorway

01:12:28holding the drenched notebook,

01:12:29my hands shaking.

01:12:33I took the notebook

01:12:34back to Chloe's room

01:12:35and dried it page by page

01:12:37with a hair broyer.

01:12:40Where the writing was blurred,

01:12:42I slowly filled it back in

01:12:44with a pencil.

01:12:46I worked until

01:12:47one in the morning.

01:12:48The next morning,

01:12:50Ashley sat in my old seat,

01:12:51chatting happily with Mom.

01:12:52No one asked

01:12:53why the circles under my eyes

01:12:54were so dark

01:12:55or what had happened

01:12:56last night,

01:12:57and I no longer needed

01:12:58to wait for that

01:12:59one last time.

01:13:00From that day on,

01:13:02I began preparing to leave

01:13:03until the day I received

01:13:04my acceptance letter.

01:13:05I knew the time had come

01:13:06to leave this house.

01:13:07I packed my suitcase

01:13:09and bought a Greyhouse ticket

01:13:10for the early dawn departure

01:13:11the next day.

01:13:12The destination was Pittsburgh.

01:13:14Then I walked to the door

01:13:14and placed my house key

01:13:16on the small entryway table.

01:13:17I left the group chat

01:13:18and deactivated

01:13:19my old phone number.

01:13:21The screen went dark.

01:13:23The whole world

01:13:24suddenly became much quieter.

01:13:27I pulled my suitcase,

01:13:28opened the door,

01:13:30and closed it softly

01:13:31behind me.

01:13:43That night,

01:13:44I laid a mattress

01:13:45on the floor

01:13:46of Chloe's room.

01:13:48Sis,

01:13:49why don't you sleep

01:13:49on the bed?

01:13:50I'll sleep on the floor.

01:13:52No,

01:13:53the floor is fine.

01:13:55Ashley is actually okay.

01:13:56Don't be upset.

01:13:58Ashley was never

01:14:00what upset me.

01:14:01What hurt

01:14:02was that in this house,

01:14:04I was always the one

01:14:05expected to give way.

01:14:08This family celebrates

01:14:10everyone's birthday.

01:14:12Everyone's but mine.

01:14:13Because my parents

01:14:14only love my twin siblings,

01:14:15Ethan and Chloe.

01:14:17They don't love me.

01:14:18When Ethan wants

01:14:19a birthday party,

01:14:20my parents book

01:14:21a private room

01:14:22at his favorite steakhouse

01:14:23a month in advance.

01:14:25When it's Chloe's turn

01:14:26and she wants to go

01:14:27to Six Flags,

01:14:28the whole family goes.

01:14:29Mom even posts

01:14:30nine photos on Instagram.

01:14:32But on my birthday,

01:14:33this house always treats it

01:14:35like any other day.

01:14:36I thought turning 18

01:14:37would be different.

01:14:38That morning,

01:14:39I got up early on purpose,

01:14:41put on light makeup,

01:14:42and sat on the living room

01:14:44couch to wait.

01:14:45Mom walked past me

01:14:46on her way out,

01:14:47carrying Chloe's dance bag.

01:14:49Heat up your own lunch.

01:14:51I'm taking Chloe

01:14:52to her intensive class.

01:14:54Dad was watering tomatoes

01:14:55in the backyard.

01:14:57Ethan called him

01:14:58to go play basketball

01:14:59at the park

01:15:00and the two of them

01:15:01left soon after.

01:15:03At noon,

01:15:03I was the only one

01:15:04left in the house.

01:15:05I sent a message

01:15:07in the family group chat.

01:15:08I'm 18 today.

01:15:10No one replied.

01:15:12At seven that night,

01:15:13everybody came home.

01:15:14No one sang.

01:15:15No one felt like

01:15:16anything was missing.

01:15:18I was 18 now.

01:15:20At last,

01:15:21I could decide for myself

01:15:22where I wanted to go.

01:15:24Mallory,

01:15:24delete that message

01:15:25from the group chat.

01:15:27I almost missed

01:15:28Grandpa's voice message.

01:15:30Ethan didn't even look up.

01:15:32He tapped the edge

01:15:33of his plate,

01:15:34lightly with his dinner knife,

01:15:36signaling Mom

01:15:37to give him more ribs.

01:15:40I looked down at my phone.

01:15:42The message

01:15:42in the family chat,

01:15:44I'm 18 today,

01:15:45was still sitting there.

01:15:46No one had replied.

01:15:49Mom came over

01:15:50with a plate of garlic bread

01:15:51and set it

01:15:52in the middle of the table.

01:15:55All right.

01:15:56No phones at dinner.

01:15:59I looked at the food

01:16:00on the table.

01:16:01Ethan liked ribs.

01:16:03Chloe liked mac and cheese.

01:16:05Mom had made

01:16:05the salad for herself.

01:16:07Not a single dish

01:16:08was for me.

01:16:09I liked seafood.

01:16:11Grilled salmon

01:16:12was my favorite.

01:16:13I had said it

01:16:14so many times.

01:16:16No one in this family

01:16:17remembered.

01:16:19Dad,

01:16:20today...

01:16:21Dad set down

01:16:22his iced tea

01:16:23and glanced at me.

01:16:25The next second,

01:16:26he turned back to Ethan.

01:16:28How's your wrist

01:16:28from basketball

01:16:29this afternoon?

01:16:30Does the sprain

01:16:31still hurt?

01:16:32It's okay.

01:16:33Shoot.

01:16:34It aches a little

01:16:34when I shoot.

01:16:35I'll take you

01:16:36to a sports therapist

01:16:36tomorrow.

01:16:37My words died

01:16:38in midair.

01:16:40I finished dinner quietly

01:16:41and went to wash

01:16:42the dishes.

01:16:43I turned the faucet

01:16:45on high.

01:16:47From the living room

01:16:48came the sound

01:16:49of Chloe practicing

01:16:50ballet basics,

01:16:51her toes landing

01:16:52against the floor

01:16:52one by one.

01:16:54Mom counted beats

01:16:54beside her.

01:16:56Ethan was playing

01:16:56Xbox in his room,

01:16:57shouting every few minutes.

01:16:59Dad was on the couch

01:17:00with his iPad.

01:17:01Everyone in this house

01:17:02had something of their own.

01:17:04Everyone had someone

01:17:05answering them.

01:17:07Except me.

01:17:10I stood in the kitchen,

01:17:11washing platelets

01:17:12and cups

01:17:13for five people.

01:17:15The water was loud.

01:17:16Loud enough

01:17:17that even if I cried,

01:17:19no one would hear.

01:17:20After the dishes,

01:17:21I went back to my room

01:17:22and shut the door.

01:17:23My phone lit up.

01:17:24It was a message

01:17:25in the class group chat.

01:17:26It was the only

01:17:27happy birthday

01:17:27I had received all day

01:17:28from a classmate

01:17:29I had known

01:17:30for less than a year.

01:17:31I replied,

01:17:32thank you.

01:17:33Then I opened

01:17:33my photo album

01:17:34and kept scrolling back.

01:17:35After I turned six,

01:17:37mom's camera

01:17:37had almost completely

01:17:38turned toward them.

01:17:39Most of the photos

01:17:40were of them.

01:17:41I scrolled for a long time

01:17:43before I finally found one.

01:17:44It was from when I was nine

01:17:45and had entered

01:17:46the school speech contest.

01:17:48Mom had taken it

01:17:49from the audience.

01:17:50The photo was blurry.

01:17:52Only half my body

01:17:53was in it

01:17:53because the other half

01:17:54of the frame

01:17:55was Chloe in the front row,

01:17:57turning back toward the camera

01:17:58with a bright smile.

01:18:00I stood off stage

01:18:01in front of the microphone,

01:18:03my face barely visible.

01:18:05The phone screen dimmed

01:18:06and my face appeared

01:18:08in the black reflection.

01:18:10Eighteen-year-old Mallory Hayes

01:18:12had spent the whole morning

01:18:13putting on makeup,

01:18:14waited all day,

01:18:15and still hadn't gotten

01:18:16a single happy birthday.

01:18:18Mom's voice came

01:18:19from outside the door.

01:18:21Mallory,

01:18:22wake your sister

01:18:23at seven tomorrow morning.

01:18:25She has training

01:18:26at eight-thirty.

01:18:29Okay.

01:18:32Hey, sis.

01:18:33It's seven.

01:18:34Chloe had woken up

01:18:35on her own.

01:18:36She stood in my doorway

01:18:37in a pink leotard,

01:18:39her hair half-tied.

01:18:40I checked my phone.

01:18:41Six-fifty-three.

01:18:43My alarm hadn't even gone off.

01:18:45You got up by yourself?

01:18:47Yeah.

01:18:48I set an alarm.

01:18:50Mom told you to wake me,

01:18:51but I was afraid

01:18:52you didn't sleep well

01:18:53last night.

01:18:54She said it so casually,

01:18:55but the words still stung.

01:18:57She knew I hadn't slept

01:18:58well last night.

01:19:00I'll help you tie your hair.

01:19:02No, it's fine.

01:19:04I can do it.

01:19:07She turned and left.

01:19:10Chloe had always been

01:19:11like that with me.

01:19:12She wasn't cruel.

01:19:14She just wasn't close.

01:19:17She called me sis,

01:19:18but the word carried

01:19:19no weight.

01:19:21The twins had their own rhythm,

01:19:23and I had never been able

01:19:24to enter it.

01:19:25At breakfast,

01:19:26Mom was warming milk

01:19:27for Chloe.

01:19:28Ethan wasn't up yet.

01:19:30Mally, have you eaten?

01:19:32I have.

01:19:34I hadn't.

01:19:35She didn't even check

01:19:36whether there was a bowl

01:19:37I'd used on the table.

01:19:38She just nodded.

01:19:40Chloe, did you pack

01:19:41your water bottle?

01:19:42It's hot today.

01:19:43Drink more water.

01:19:44I did.

01:19:46Mally, drive your sister there.

01:19:48She still doesn't know

01:19:49the stops near the training center.

01:19:51Chloe had been going

01:19:52to that training center

01:19:53for two years.

01:19:54Mom still said

01:19:55she didn't know the way.

01:19:57Okay.

01:19:59As we were leaving,

01:20:00Ethan finally got up

01:20:01and called from his doorway.

01:20:03Mom, what's for breakfast?

01:20:06I left you a bagel

01:20:07and yogurt on the table.

01:20:09A bagel and yogurt?

01:20:11Ethan's regular breakfast.

01:20:13No one had ever asked

01:20:14what I wanted in the morning.

01:20:16On the way to the training center,

01:20:18Chloe sat in the passenger seat

01:20:20scrolling through her phone.

01:20:22She wasn't trying to be cold.

01:20:24It just never occurred to her

01:20:26to talk to me.

01:20:29Sis?

01:20:31When she suddenly spoke,

01:20:32my palm tightened on the wheel.

01:20:35What?

01:20:36That message you sent

01:20:38in the group chat yesterday?

01:20:39Ethan told you to delete it?

01:20:42Yeah.

01:20:44Did you?

01:20:46No.

01:20:48She nodded,

01:20:49then lowered her head

01:20:50to look at her phone again.

01:20:51I waited for a long time,

01:20:53waiting for her to say,

01:20:54happy birthday.

01:20:55She didn't.

01:20:57When we reached the training center,

01:20:59she unbuckled her seat belt.

01:21:01Sis, I'm here.

01:21:03Yeah.

01:21:04Train hard.

01:21:04Can you pick me up this afternoon?

01:21:06I finish at five.

01:21:07I have a study group this afternoon.

01:21:09That was a lie.

01:21:10I had nothing this afternoon.

01:21:12I just didn't want to go.

01:21:13Then I'll ask Mom to pick me up.

01:21:15Okay.

01:21:17At 4.50 that afternoon,

01:21:19Mom sent a message

01:21:20in the family group chat.

01:21:22Chloe finishes training at five.

01:21:23Who can pick her up?

01:21:25I'm in a meeting.

01:21:25I'm at a friend's house.

01:21:27Mallory?

01:21:27Aren't you free this afternoon?

01:21:29I looked at that message.

01:21:31She started with,

01:21:32who can pick her up?

01:21:33But in the end,

01:21:33it still landed on me.

01:21:34It's on your way anyway, right?

01:21:36Just go pick her up.

01:21:37It wasn't on my way at all.

01:21:38But in this family,

01:21:39my road was always on the way.

01:21:41My time was always free.

01:21:43I typed okay and sent it.

01:21:45Then I turned my phone

01:21:46face down on the desk.

01:21:49Suddenly,

01:21:50I wondered,

01:21:52what would happen

01:21:53if one day

01:21:54I didn't reply with okay?

01:21:56If I turned off my phone,

01:21:58canceled my number,

01:21:59and disappeared too,

01:22:00would they first panic

01:22:02because no one

01:22:03could pick up Chloe?

01:22:04Or would they think of me first?

01:22:05I knew the answer.

01:22:07When I picked Chloe up,

01:22:08her face was flushed from training

01:22:10and her hair was damp.

01:22:11Sis, I'm thirsty.

01:22:13Where's your water bottle?

01:22:15Finished it.

01:22:16I handed her the spare bottle

01:22:17of water in the car.

01:22:18Thanks, sis.

01:22:19Mm.

01:22:20On the way home,

01:22:21she soon fell asleep

01:22:22against the window.

01:22:23I adjusted the air conditionings

01:22:24so the car wouldn't be so cold.

01:22:26She was the little princess

01:22:27everyone in the family

01:22:28revolved around.

01:22:29And most of the roads

01:22:30I had driven through this city

01:22:31had been for someone else,

01:22:32but not for much longer.

01:22:34Not long after,

01:22:35the school college counselor

01:22:37called me into her office.

01:22:38Mallory Hayes,

01:22:39I saw your awards record.

01:22:41Honorable Ments

01:22:42in the National Math Olympias.

01:22:43That's impressive.

01:22:44Awards like that

01:22:45carry real weight.

01:22:46Which schools are you considering

01:22:47for early applications?

01:22:49I'm still looking.

01:22:50What do your parents think?

01:22:51I haven't told them yet.

01:22:53Something this important

01:22:54and you're not discussing it

01:22:55with your family first?

01:22:57I want to look into it

01:22:58myself first.

01:22:59I knew that even if I told them,

01:23:00no one would take it seriously.

01:23:02On last month's mock examine,

01:23:03I ranked third

01:23:03in the entire grade.

01:23:04I took a photo of my report card

01:23:06and sent it to the family group chat.

01:23:07My third place ranking

01:23:08stayed in the chat

01:23:08for only a very short while.

01:23:10All it got from mom

01:23:10was one sentence.

01:23:11Not bad.

01:23:12The next message

01:23:12was a video mom sent

01:23:14of Chloe dancing.

01:23:15That afternoon,

01:23:15when I got home,

01:23:16I found a dusty letter

01:23:17among a pile of bills

01:23:18and flyers on the coffee table.

01:23:20It said,

01:23:21Congratulations,

01:23:22Mr. and Mrs. Hayes.

01:23:23Your daughter,

01:23:24Mallory Hayes,

01:23:24has received an honorable mention

01:23:26in the National High School

01:23:27Mathematics Olympiad.

01:23:28Two months had passed.

01:23:29The envelope hadn't even been opened.

01:23:31It was tucked between bills

01:23:32and pizza courons,

01:23:34completely forgotten.

01:23:35At dinner,

01:23:35mom answered a FaceTime call

01:23:37from my aunt.

01:23:37My aunt asked about

01:23:38Ethan's swim meet.

01:23:39Mom said he had taken

01:23:40second place in the district,

01:23:42pride filling her voice.

01:23:43My aunt asked about

01:23:44Chloe's dance competition.

01:23:45Mom said she had won gold

01:23:47at regionals

01:23:47and the judges had praised

01:23:49how steady she was off dyes.

01:23:51How's Mallory?

01:23:52She's applying to college

01:23:52soon too, right?

01:23:55She's doing fine.

01:23:57Third in my grade,

01:23:58a National Math Olympiac Award.

01:24:00In mom's mouth,

01:24:01all of it became doing fine.

01:24:02I sat at the dining table,

01:24:04still holding the award letter

01:24:05that had been forgotten

01:24:05for two months.

01:24:06No one asked how I had been lately.

01:24:08No one turned to me and said,

01:24:10Mallory, what about you?

01:24:11I went back to my room,

01:24:12opened my laptop,

01:24:13and started looking up colleges

01:24:14that would actually care

01:24:15about competition backgrounds.

01:24:16In the end,

01:24:17I stopped at Carnegie Mellon.

01:24:19Hundreds of miles away from home,

01:24:20no one would remember me,

01:24:21only when they needed someone

01:24:22to pick up my sister.

01:24:23I opened the application page.

01:24:25My fingers hovered over the screen

01:24:27for three seconds

01:24:28before I finally closed it.

01:24:30I decided to try one more time.

01:24:32If they still couldn't see me this time,

01:24:34I would leave.

01:24:36Completely.

01:24:39Mallory,

01:24:40Ashley is coming to stay with us

01:24:42for a while.

01:24:44Give her your room

01:24:45and share with Chloe for now.

01:24:47Saturday morning,

01:24:48mom said it casually

01:24:49while changing shoes by the door.

01:24:51I was sitting at the dining table

01:24:52eating cereal.

01:24:53My spoon stopped in midair.

01:24:58Why my room?

01:25:00Your room gets the best natural light.

01:25:02Ashley hasn't been feeling well lately

01:25:04and the doctor said more sunlight

01:25:05would be good for her.

01:25:06Ethan's room has a window too.

01:25:08Your brother is a boy,

01:25:09Ashley is a girl.

01:25:09How could they share a room?

01:25:11Then let her stay with Chloe.

01:25:12Chloe needs space to stretch at night.

01:25:14Your room only has a bed and a desk.

01:25:16It's easy to clear out.

01:25:17How long is she staying?

01:25:18About half a month.

01:25:19Her summer program is over here.

01:25:20I didn't argue anymore.

01:25:22Experience had taught me

01:25:23a long time ago

01:25:23that arguing was useless.

01:25:25That afternoon,

01:25:26Ashley came in

01:25:27dragging two large suitcases,

01:25:29smiling sweetly.

01:25:32Auntie, uncle.

01:25:34You're here!

01:25:35Come in!

01:25:36Mom was so warm

01:25:38as if an important guest had arrived.

01:25:40Ashley pushed her suitcases

01:25:42into my room

01:25:43and looked around from the doorway.

01:25:45Auntie,

01:25:46can this bookshelf be moved out?

01:25:47I want to put a vanity mirror here.

01:25:50Of course.

01:25:51Mallory,

01:25:52move the bookshelf out.

01:25:54On my bookshelf

01:25:55were three years of notebooks,

01:25:56reference books,

01:25:57and a few certificates.

01:25:59It took me an hour

01:26:00to move everything

01:26:00into a corner of Chloe's room.

01:26:03That night,

01:26:03I laid a mattress

01:26:04on the floor of Chloe's room.

01:26:07Sis,

01:26:08why don't you sleep on the bed?

01:26:09I'll sleep on the floor.

01:26:11No,

01:26:12the floor is fine.

01:26:14Ashley is actually okay.

01:26:16Don't be upset.

01:26:18Ashley was never what upset me.

01:26:21What hurt

01:26:22was that in this house,

01:26:23I was always the one

01:26:25expected to give way.

01:26:27On the third day,

01:26:28I went back to my room

01:26:29to get review materials

01:26:30and opened the door

01:26:31to find Ashley

01:26:32flipping through

01:26:32my math competition notes.

01:26:34These are yours?

01:26:35Your handwriting is so neat.

01:26:37Yeah.

01:26:38Please put them back.

01:26:39I was just looking.

01:26:40You're way too protective

01:26:41of this stuff.

01:26:41She casually put the notebook

01:26:43back on the desk.

01:26:44I glanced over

01:26:45and suddenly realized

01:26:46one was missing.

01:26:47There was a blue one

01:26:48on the desk.

01:26:48Where is it?

01:26:49I didn't touch it.

01:26:50I didn't see it.

01:26:51I searched for 10 minutes

01:26:52and finally found it

01:26:53in the trash can.

01:26:55Half the cover

01:26:55had been torn off

01:26:56and several pages inside

01:26:57were soaked with coffee.

01:26:59The writing blurred

01:26:59into smears.

01:27:00It was the problem-solving notebook

01:27:01I had been organizing

01:27:02since freshman year.

01:27:04Three years.

01:27:04I only had that one copy.

01:27:06Ashley,

01:27:07this?

01:27:08Oh,

01:27:08maybe I knocked it over

01:27:09when I was carrying coffee.

01:27:10Just write another one.

01:27:10I stood in the doorway

01:27:11holding the drenched notebook,

01:27:13my hands shaking.

01:27:17I took the notebook

01:27:18back to Chloe's room

01:27:19and dried it page by page

01:27:21with a hair broyer.

01:27:24Where the writing was blurred,

01:27:26I slowly filled it back in

01:27:27with a pencil.

01:27:30I worked until one

01:27:31in the morning.

01:27:32The next morning,

01:27:33Ashley sat in my old seat,

01:27:35chatting happily with Mom.

01:27:36No one asked why the circles

01:27:37under my eyes were so dark

01:27:39or what had happened last night.

01:27:40And I no longer needed

01:27:42to wait for that one last time.

01:27:44From that day on,

01:27:45I began preparing to leave

01:27:47until the day I received

01:27:48my acceptance letter.

01:27:49I knew the time had come

01:27:50to leave this house.

01:27:51I packed my suitcase

01:27:52and bought a Greyhouse ticket

01:27:53for the early dawn departure

01:27:55the next day.

01:27:56The destination was Pittsburgh.

01:27:57Then I walked to the door

01:27:58and placed my house key

01:27:59on the small entryway table.

01:28:01I left the group chat

01:28:02and deactivated

01:28:03my old phone number.

01:28:05The screen went dark.

01:28:06The whole world suddenly

01:28:08became much quieter.

01:28:10I pulled my suitcase,

01:28:12opened the door,

01:28:13and closed it softly

01:28:15behind me.

01:28:16with the door.

01:28:17I was born and I was born and forced

01:28:21Cause I was born.

01:28:21I was born and I was born and I am

01:28:21the next day.

01:28:22In the middle of the day I went to see

01:28:26the house that went back

01:28:26I used to go to the house.

You Ignored My Birthday So I Erased Myself From The Family Dailymotion Movie | They Took Her for Granted… Until She Left

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