Mom, I miss you so much.
- 3.
Today was payday, and I only had $2.80 in my
bank account.
I swallowed hard. I wouldn’t be able to eat if
they didn’t pay me.
I was still hoping that Dad wouldn’t leave me
hanging.
My phone buzzed.
<
I checked it right away.
In the family group chat, Dad had just sent
Ashley a payment of $2,000.
It wasn’t for me.
Like they were trying to rub it in, Ashley sent
a voice message, thanking Dad.
Dad replied with a smiley face, and he wrote
something about me.
“I can spend my money however I want.”
33
“Some people don’t deserve it.’
く
Even though this wasn’t the first time they’d
said something like that, it still hurt like hell.
What did I even do wrong?
I didn’t have a mom, but I didn’t have a family
either.
I was done.
I hit the “Leave Group” button.
I was the odd one out, anyway.
They hadn’t even noticed I left.
く
I had accidentally saw Ashley’s text
messages, and found out that they had made
a family group text without me.
I was sad and angry. I took Ashley’s phone
and asked Dad why. Then he slapped me.
“What’s wrong with having another group
chat? You get jealous all the time!”
The group chat was full of payments.
Dad and my brother were sending her money.
She had dozens of times more money than
- me.
<
I covered my face, tears in my eyes.
Dad realized I was sad, and he was a bit
nicer.
“We did it for you. You’re so jealous! You
would get upset if you knew we sent Ashley
money.”
I was angry. I didn’t know how they could be
so biased.
I had to do all of the chores. I had to be
careful so that they would not get angry, and
then I would get $800 per month.
<
But Ashley didn’t have to do anything, and
she would get way more money than me.
I grabbed Dad’s sleeve, crying. He got angry
and told me that he would take away half of
my allowance if I kept crying.
Ashley started crying, so Dad got her $5,000.
I stopped crying and ran back to my room,
trying to tell myself that I should just get good grades so that Dad and my brother
would love me.
But now I know it was all a joke.
They didn’t notice when I left the group chat.
く
I walked to school.
Close to the school, a car almost hit me.
I stumbled to the ground.
It was Dad’s car.
I had never ridden in it before.
My school was 30 minutes away, so I had to
walk so I could save money.
But Ashley always got rides in the car.
Dad told me, “You need to know what it’s like
to struggle.”
く
“Ashley had a tough childhood, so we can’t
let her suffer anymore.”
I had always thought they wanted to help me,
but it was just an excuse for them to treat me
differently.
Ashley got out of the car, wearing an outfit
she bought with Dad’s money. She held up
her new iPhone, showing it off.
I would have been sad before, but I don’t care
anymore.
I stood up, brushed myself off, and walked to
the school.
