I was dragged behind the school by a group of thugs and beaten all night, just a day before the physical exam. When I was finally rescued, both of my arms were broken and two of my ribs were cracked — meaning I would never be able to play basketball again for the rest of my life.
My mom didn’t answer my emergency call because she was away on a business trip. When she found out, she cried with guilt and swore she would make them pay for what they did to me.
My sister pulled every string she could to assemble the best medical team in the city to try to save me.
As I lay in the car, barely conscious, I heard her whisper,
“Mom, don’t you think this is too much?” There was hesitation in her voice. “Sending someone to rough up Rafael at school—if you wanted to stop him from taking the fitness test and clear the way for Cliff, wasn’t there another way?”
My mom took a tissue, gently wiping the sweat from my forehead before sighing.
“He kept targeting Cliff at school. To keep him under control and get him out of Cliff’s way, we didn’t have a choice.”
“I’m going to make him the successor—the future head of the company. That should be enough to make up for it.”
But basketball had been my lifelong dream.
Tears slipped down my cheeks.
Turns out, the happy family I thought I had was nothing more than a web of lies and betrayal.
——
“The patient’s condition is critical. The medical team is ready—should we prep him for surgery immediately?”
My mom hesitated. “Wait until tomorrow.”
The doctor blinked in disbelief. “Both of his hands are broken. If we don’t operate now, the bones may not heal properly. He may never be able to hold anything steadily again.”
“I heard he’s a basketball player. If we don’t treat him right away, I’m afraid he might—”
“Did you hear that? Mom, we can’t wait,” My sister cut him off. “Rafael’s young, he has his whole life ahead of him. We can’t just let him end up disabled.”
“That’s exactly what I want,” my mother said coldly. Her voice was sharp as ice. “If it’s come to this, we might as well go all the way. I need to make sure Cliff passes his physical test. Rafael's too good. The only way Cliff can make it in basketball is if Rafael’s out of the picture for good.”
My fists clenched at my sides, my whole body shaking with rage. My mother—the woman who was supposed to love me most—was willing to destroy me for someone else.
For a long time, I believed her sudden change of heart after Dad died was because of guilt. I thought maybe she'd realized she hadn't been the best mother and wanted to make things right.
But now, the truth cut through me like a knife. The mother who once seemed to love me more than life itself was willing to ruin me for some kid she’d been sponsoring. And my sister—the one who used to fuss over me, always putting me first—was suddenly more concerned about someone else.
I didn’t understand. How had things turned out like this?
