My Biased Parents Don't Love Me

I had always thought that my parents were merely showing favoritism, until my eighteenth birthday, when I realized I was wrong.

On my birthday, Mom personally went into the kitchen for the first time of what I could remember to make me a traditional birthday meal, her smile warm and gentle.

But her words plunged me into a freezing abyss.

“Clary, you should give your cornea to Eva.”

——

I stared at Mom in disbelief, realizing that the plate of traditional birthday dish she gave me and her warm smile came at the cost of my cornea.

Just moments ago, I had been celebrating my eighteenth birthday. I had finally achieved the wish I had held since I was seven years old.

I had thought that Mom and Dad truly loved me. Thinking that: "Look, Mom remembered my birthday and made me nice pasta!"

But now...

Mom’s face was filled with anticipation as she looked at me in silence, her expression growing more somber.

“Clary, you know Eva has been an orphan since she was little. Now the doctor says her eyes are failing and she’s going to go blind. Can’t you show a little compassion?”

I was so infuriated I almost laughed, a wave of sadness spreading through me.

I sighed deeply. “Mom, I still need to apply to college. How am I supposed to study without my eyesight?”

I had always obeyed them without question and she probably didn’t expect me to resist this time.

Mom snorted dismissively. “Hmph, with your grades, you’re not going to college anyway. So, just forget about it.”

“Eva mentioned that there’s a rich kid at her college who likes her. But if she goes blind, how can she expect him to stay with her?”

“But if you give her your eyes, once she graduates, they’ll get married. We’ll all have a better life and you’ll benefit from it too.”

Listening to what Mom was saying made me feel a cold shiver all over.

Suddenly, I heard a noise from behind.

"Sister, I know you've never liked me. So, if you don't give me your corneas, I won't blame you."

Evangeline's voice was filled with sorrow, as if she'd suffered an immense injustice.

"But... but I just wanted our parents to enjoy a peaceful old age and now even that wish seems impossible."

Evangeline choked back tears as she fell into our mother's arms. "Mom, don't blame Clary. It's okay if I go blind..."

Mom held Evangeline tightly, gently patting her back and soothing her, "Eva, don't cry. Mom knows you're the most filial. Don't worry, as long as I'm here, you'll see again..."

How touching, right? A deep bond between mother and daughter, so heartwarming.

Anyone who didn't know better would think I was some kind of villain. This kind of situation had happened between Evangeline and me so many times and each time it ended with her victorious.

But this time, would it be any different?

I watched Evangeline coldly. She was really good at acting—did she ever get tired, I wonder?

Her eyes were full of triumph as she raised an eyebrow at me, as if to challenge,

"Just admit defeat. Your eyes, if I say they're mine, then they're mine."

I stood there, stunned for a long while before I could snap out of it.

***

Before the age of seven, I lived with my grandpa in the countryside. He was the one who loved me the most. My mom immediately left with my dad in a honeymoon and never returned, so I didn't have many memories of them.

That was why, Whenever I saw other kids holding hands with their parents, skipping and laughing, I couldn’t help but feel a bit envious.

Grandpa would always smile kindly and say, “Clary, your mom and dad are out making lots of money. They both love you very much and soon they’ll bring you to the city for school.”

I didn’t fully understand what he meant. So, I looked up at Grandpa with wide, innocent eyes and asked, “But why do other kids’ parents come home for Christmas and New Year and mine don’t?”

Grandpa would gently pat my head, as if he was comforting both me and himself. “Your mom and dad want to make money quickly so they can bring you to the city sooner.”

With pure innocence in my eyes, I looked at Grandpa and asked, “Will you come too, Grandpa?”

Grandpa just shook his head gently. “I'm getting old, Clary. I can’t travel far anymore.”

I held Grandpa tightly, tears welling up in my eyes. "Grandpa, then I won't go either. I want to stay with you forever. I don't like it if I don't live with you..."

Grandpa just laughed heartily. "Alright, alright..." he muttered.

It wasn't until later that I realized all of Grandpa's kind words were gentle lies.

During those years, there was no word from my parents.

Then, when I was seven, a fellow villager offered to take me to find them.

Parting from Grandpa was hard, but he had painted such a beautiful picture of life in the city that I couldn't help but feel excited.

Grandpa gave me a notebook, which I treasured dearly.

In it, I recorded my longing for Grandpa and my hopes for reuniting with my parents.