Betrayed: When My Family Killed Me

I was reborn.

The corn in the pantry turned red. My mom, Linda, thinking it was a good omen and wanted to give them to my nephew, Zed.

When I found out, I burned the corn and the pantry.

Linda slapped me because of ruining Zed's luck.

My brother and his wife, Jeremy and Amanda, beat me until I died.

When I opened my eyes again, I was back to the day Linda was going to give the red corn to Zed.

1

Linda said, "With these corn, Little Zed will be smarter."

Linda holding the corn with both hands, her eyes gleaming.

In the basket, some corn had turned red.

I was still in a daze.

Linda slapped me hard. "What are you staring at? Go make the corn!"

My face stung with pain as I came to my senses. I looked at the kitchen where the red corn were boiling.

I realized I had been reborn.

Suppressing my excitement, I quickly started working.

She looked at me with contempt, her eyes full of disdain. "Girls are such good-for-nothing! You earn just 2,000 dollars a month, eat and live in my house. Useless!"

I took a deep breath, swallowing my bitterness.

As the aroma of the corn filled the room, Zed returned from a day out with his parents.

Amanda, hands on her hips, barked orders at me.

"Lisa, serve us some food. I'm starving."

I slowed my steps, trying to resist.

Jeremy slapped the back of my head, making me dizzy.

"Move faster!"

I hurried, afraid of being beaten if I was too slow.

The family sat comfortably at the table, chatting and laughing.

I huddled in the corner, feeling like an outsider.

To them, I was worth less than a maid.

My parents kept piling steak into Zed's dining plate, telling him that eating the red corn would make him smart and bring good luck.

Jeremy slowed his eating. "What's with these red corn?"

Linda lit up, "Some of the corn in the pantry turned red. I heard it's a good omen. Eating these will bring good luck and prosperity!"

Jeremy and Amanda hesitated, looking at me. "You work in a hospital. Do you know why the corn turned red?"

I shook my head, staying silent.

Gordon waved it off. "Don't worry. Red corn don't just appear. It must be fine."

Amanda sneered, glaring at me with undisguised hatred.

"You just wasted three years in school! You are a good-for-nothing!"

I kept my head down, eating pickles quietly.

They lost interest in me.