“Auntie….” Dad started, trying to put on a
friendly face, but he sounded irritated.
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VVital: AIC you alive TU UCIGNiall your fillic
princess‘ birthday, but not me celebrating my little princess‘ birthday? You two are hilarious.”
My aunt lit up a cigarette, her movements
elegant.
Mom and Dad were speechless. They couldn’t
afford to offend her. They turned their anger on
- me.
“Sarah, were you trying to make me look bad
on purpose?” Mom snapped.
She was mad at me because I didn’t tell her it
was my birthday, embarrassing her in front of
my aunt.
“Wendy, what are you yelling for? Don’t forget,
Sarah isn’t your daughter anymore. She’s
mine!” my aunt said, pulling me to a seat.
“Fine then, leave! We don’t want you here! This
is the Miller’s!” Mom was clearly losing it. She
was willing to start a fight with my aunt just to
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was willing to start a fight with my aunt just to protect Tiffany.
Dad said nothing. He clearly backed Mom’s
position. They were a strange pair, full of lies.
“We should leave, but not us, you,” my aunt said, looking down at them.
“Henry, Wendy, tell me. How did the birthday gift I sent my Sarah turn into a gift for Tiffany? The house and the car are all registered under Sarah’s name.” My aunt’s words dropped like a
bomb.
“No! That’s impossible! They said it was a
birthday gift for the Miller’s daughter….” Dad
said before trailing off. He fell into the couch,
looking completely lost. The Miller’s final hope
had been shattered.
- 15.
:
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“Mr. Miller, you do realize it is also the birthday
of your other daughter?” I said, smiling, with
tears in my eyes.
“Auntie, Tiffany’s also your niece. Why are you treating her so differently?” Dad cried out.
“I can give my things to whoever I want.
Everything I have will belong to my little Sarah
one day.” My aunt patted my shoulder, wiping a
tear off my face. After my grandma, I was lucky
to have met my aunt.
“Aunt, Tiffany got into a great music school.
Sarah never even graduated college. How can
she compare?” Mom was begging, pulling
Tiffany forward. They weren’t getting their
mystery benefactor. It was time to try to get
into my aunt’s pocket.
“Tsk tsk. Tiffany? You should call and ask
where exactly your little girl got into,” my aunt
<
9:55
Said, Ticking her ashes into the ashtray.
63)
Tiffany had a crazy private life, and she had
forged her acceptance letter. Tonight she was
stripped of all her pretenses.
Thirty minutes later, Mr. and Mrs. Miller left with
Tiffany. They looked defeated and miserable.
“This place is too dirty to live in anyway. Let’s
move somewhere else, my little princess!” My
aunt smiled.
“Thank you, Aunt!” I said, giving her a hug. I felt
safe.
That year, probably out of sympathy, Mom and
Dad took me to my aunt’s place, asking her to
take me in. My aunt just looked at me, before
saying, “Fine, she can stay.”
And with that simple sentence, I finally had a
family. My aunt and dad were twins. My aunt
was born five minutes before Dad, but their
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63
And with that simple sentence, I finally had a family. My aunt and dad were twins. My aunt was born five minutes before Dad, but their lives were so different. She had to struggle because she was the older sister. When she finally had the power to fight her family, she cut them out completely. After my grandparents. passed, her relationship with my dad improved slightly. But she always watched the Millers, never offering help, or trying to make things
worse.
My aunt and my dad weren’t close, but she
probably saw something of herself in me. She
helped me because she had been in the rain,
and she didn’t want others to feel it too. She
took me in. In the second year of living with my
aunt, my name was registered under her
address.
Before I moved in with my aunt, my mom and
dad told me I should call them “uncle” and
“aunt” from now on. Tiffany was little, they said.
<
9:55
- ))
unny
Into me Tor the last ten years. She heine into me for the last ten years. She helped me
elped me
move on from my past, making move on from my past, making me strong and amazing. She made sure I wa
me strong and amazing. She made sure I wasn’t defined by being the daughter of the
1 defined by being the daughter of the Miller’s. the Miller’s.
Before I went back to the Mi
Before I went back to the Miller’s, she told me, “Cut them off.” I had
The Miller’s, she told me, “Cut them off.” I had always wanted to do that. I made the plan. But always wanted to do that. I made the plan. But my aunt supported me in everything, Dian, But my aunt supported me in everything.
She once told me
She once told me, “Everything works in
mysterior
me, “Everything works in
mysterious ways. That includes family. There’s no nothus ways. That includes family. There’s no need to force it.”
nee
ied to force it.
That night, I moved to a new place. I also nst night, I moved to a new place. I also officially took over my aunt’s company. officially took over my aunt’s company.
Mr. and Mrs. Miller came to see me a few Mr. and Mrs. Miller came to see me a few times, but I refused to see them. I knew why limos, but I refused to see them. I knew why they wanted to see me. The Millers were going they wanted to see me. The Millers were going bankrupt, and they thought I was their only bankrupt, and they thought I was their only hope. They wanted me to come back, acting hope: They wanted me to come back, acting like a family again. They promised to be fair to like a family again. They promised to be fair to
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9:55
62
took me in. In the second year of living with my
aunt, my name was registered under her
address.
Before I moved in with my aunt, my mom and
dad told me I should call them “uncle” and
“aunt” from now on. Tiffany was little, they said.
She couldn’t accept me calling them “Mom and
Dad.” I agreed to it.
My aunt, who seemed cold, had put everything
into me for the last ten years. She helped me
move on from my past, making me strong and
amazing. She made sure I wasn’t defined by
being the daughter of the Miller’s.
Before I went back to the Miller’s, she told me,
“Cut them off.” I had always wanted to do that.
I made the plan. But my aunt supported me in
everything.
She once told me, “Everything works in
mysterious ways. That includes family. There’s
That night, I moved to a new place. I also
officially took over my aunt’s company.
Mr. and Mrs. Miller came to see me a few
times, but I refused to see them. I knew why
they wanted to see me. The Millers were going
bankrupt, and they thought I was their only
hope. They wanted me to come back, acting
like a family again. They promised to be fair to
me and Tiffany.
But I was already done with seeking parental
affection. I no longer wanted what I had longed
for before.
When that failed, they tried to use the fact that
they were my birth parents, telling me I had to
take care of them.
I wasn’t stupid enough to fall for that. A legally
adopted child had no obligation to support their
birth parents.
<
affection. I no longer wanted what I had longed
for before.
When that failed, they tried to use the fact that
they were my birth parents, telling me I had to
take care of them.
I wasn’t stupid enough to fall for that. A legally
adopted child had no obligation to support their
birth parents.
After a few tries, Mr. and Mrs. Miller stopped
coming around. I had no idea how their lives
were and I didn’t want to know. I appreciated
every moment of what I had.
My future with my aunt was going to be
amazing, and every day felt like I was being
given another chance.
