When the earthquake hit, my
mother chose to save her sister
When the earthquake hit, my sister, Lily, and I
were buried. I was badly injured. Mom, a
rescue worker, wanted to move the rubble
crushing me to save Lily first. I begged her
not to, it wasn’t safe. But she snapped,
“You’re so selfish! You’d rather your sister
die! I wish I’d never had you!”
She got her wish. I died. And Mom, who’d
never liked me much, lost her mind.
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I died, but my soul lingered near Mom. She
carried Lily toward the medical tent, her face
etched with worry. “Lily, honey, stay with me.
The doctor’s coming.”
L
Dad raged, “That Anna! How could she be
such a terrible sister? She didn’t even try to
protect Lily. Good riddance!”
I gave a ghostly sigh. They’d never liked me.
Now I was gone, just as they wanted. They
could pretend I’d never existed.
The doctor checked Lily thoroughly.
Dehydration. That’s all. Not a scratch on her.
One of Mom’s colleagues, a guy named John,
said, “Anna’s still down there. We need to go
back for her.”
Mom waved him off. “She’s tough. She’ll be
fine. She’s just sulking because I didn’t carry
her out first.” Then, softer, as if justifying to
herself, “Besides, I already shifted the rocks.
off her. She was talking, looked okay when
<
herself, “Besides, I already shifted the rocks
off her. She was talking, looked okay when
we got Lily out.”
I floated above them. I’d heard those words a
thousand times while I was alive, yet they still
stung. Mom told Dad to stay with Lily and
went back with the rescue team.
She returned at nightfall, scanning the crowd,
her face grim. “Where is that girl? Why isn’t
she back yet? Lily’s fine, why is she so
different? So irresponsible!” Then, bitterly, “If
she’s not back, she can stay out there. One
less thing to worry about.”
I’d been trapped with Lily, yet her only
concern was my absence. The same old
blame. I was used to it, but the pain was a
sharp, familiar ache. I was always second
<
blame. I was used to it, but the pain was a
sharp, familiar ache. I was always second
best, a shadow to Lily. They never loved me.
Mom, a trained rescuer, knew the risks of
moving those rocks. Yet she ignored my
pleas, shifted them anyway, and blamed me
for my own impending death. Then she took
Lily and left me to die. There wasn’t an ounce
of love for me in her heart.
John looked troubled. “Susan, Anna’s a good
kid. Maybe something happened? We should
go back.”
Mom thought I was playing games. “Good
kid? You don’t see how she treats Lily when
you’re not around. It’s all an act. She wouldn’t
dare stay out there.” She trailed off,
muttering, “Besides, she’s been trying to get
<
muttering, “Besides, she’s been trying to get
rid of Lily since they were in the womb…”
“Mommy! Mommy, I’m scared! Mommy, help
me!” Lily, pale and teary–eyed, woke up and
flung herself into Mom’s arms.
Mom’s words evaporated. She hugged Lily close, crooning, “It’s okay, sweetie. Mommy’s
here.”
John and the others hesitated. “Susan, she’s
just a kid… We should…”
Mom cut them off sharply. “She’s being
difficult. You’re all exhausted. Go home and
rest.”
“Mommy, where’s Anna? Where’s my sister?
You have to save her!”
I saw a flicker of…satisfaction? …cross
Mom’s face, quickly replaced with a show of
concern for me.
Dad chimed in. “Lily, honey, Mommy moved
the rocks. Your sister’s fine…”
“Yes,” Mom added hastily, “She’s just sulking.
Honestly, that girl…”
Lily sobbed, “Mommy, maybe she’s mad
because I took her birthday present. It’s all my
fault…”
I laughed. Lily, the perfect angel in front of our parents, always playing the victim. With me, she was a spoiled brat, flaunting their love. Even now, dead, she still feared I’d steal their affection. Their precious Lily. So well-
fault…‘
وو
I laughed. Lily, the perfect angel in front of
our parents, always playing the victim. With me, she was a spoiled brat, flaunting their love. Even now, dead, she still feared I’d steal their affection. Their precious Lily. So well-
behaved, such good grades. What would they think if they knew the real her? The one who tormented me relentlessly.
