The allowance was enough for me to buy my own medication at the hospital.
After I brought the meds back, I carefully put them away.
I didn’t want to bring up my lung cancer on my own anymore—I was afraid they’d think I was faking it.
Even when I coughed, I tried to hide it from them, but they still showed their disgust.
Dr. James Wilson said the medication could hold things down for now, but I should be admitted as soon as possible.
I promised him that when the time was right, I would tell my family and ask them to accompany me for inpatient treatment.
When they truly loved me—when they truly accepted me—I would tell them.
I hid the bottles behind the bookshelf in my bedroom.
Half a month later, to celebrate Emily Carter’s recovery, my parents ordered a huge cake.
Linda Miller said it was also to make up for the fifteenth birthday I had “missed.”
But Dr. Wilson had told me I shouldn’t eat sweets—
they would only trigger more coughing.
“Thanks, Mom. I’m happy, but I really can’t eat the cake…”
Before I could finish, Emily bit her lip and dabbed at the bandage on her injured wrist, tears brimming.
“Sis, you still haven’t forgiven me after all.”
I raised a hand. “No, that’s not—”
Emily cut me off.
“I really didn’t know you had a peanut allergy before. I specifically told them not to put peanuts in the cake today.”
Pointing at two little fondant girls holding hands on top, she said,
“Look, I even had them make us as sisters—so we could be ‘good’ again.”
“If you won’t eat it, it means you won’t forgive me…”
Her voice trembled, and tears gathered again.
Daniel Miller glared at me.
“Emily already apologized like this—are you really going to keep acting superior?”
Robert Miller frowned and pressed me:
“You’re eating the cake today. Don’t make Emily sad.”
I looked to Linda for help.
Even her eyes showed disappointment as she tried to persuade me:
“Sarah, if you won’t eat it, that really is you being unreasonable.”
“Your sister’s still recovering. She came with me to the bakery to watch them make it. It’s from the heart.”
I let out a bitter laugh and nodded.
“Fine. I’ll eat.”
With Emily’s hand over mine, we cut the cake together. She smiled and passed me the largest slice.
“Sis, you have to finish it, okay? That’ll make Emily happy!”
The sticky frosting slid down my throat, and an itchy sweetness clawed at it. I instantly felt unwell.
“Pff—”
I couldn’t help it. Cream sprayed from my mouth as a violent cough seized me.
The whole cake was spattered with my saliva.
Daniel shouted, “Sarah Miller, what the hell is that supposed to mean? Trying to gross everybody out?”
Linda’s voice was heavy with disappointment. “Sarah, this really wasn’t necessary. Your sister stood over that cake for hours—it’s her hard work…”
I couldn’t respond. The coughing wouldn’t stop.
Eyes burning red, tears streaming, I could only run back to my room for my meds.
The instant the cool liquid medication touched my tongue, the irritation in my throat finally eased.
When I came out, the three of them were still standing around the cake, staring coldly.
“Sis, you really won’t forgive me?” Emily asked through tears.
Robert finally exploded:
“Eat. Since you contaminated the whole cake, you’ll finish all of it.”
“Otherwise, don’t you ever set foot in the Miller house again!”
Daniel lifted the entire cake and walked it to me.
He stuffed a fork in my hand with a smirk that didn’t reach his eyes and said:
