When my parents placed me in the psychiatric hospital, Karina was performing a violin concert. My fiancé and younger brother were in the audience, applauding and celebrating her. That should have been my moment of glory. The violin was meant to be my twelfth birthday gift.
Throughout my life, Karina and I competed over countless things. Whether I was right or wrong, my parents always took her side, immediately blaming me whenever she shed a tear. Without fail. And yet, I am their biological daughter!
It was only at the moment of my death that I realized the truth. If given another chance, I would never compete with Karina for this one-sided love.
---
When I opened my eyes again, I was eleven years old, reborn on the day Karina wanted to change her name to be part of the Baker family. Karina, my uncle's daughter, lost her parents in a car accident and was left frail and unwell. Dad and Uncle were brothers, and Dad couldn’t bear to see Karina alone, so he adopted her as one of our own.
Karina nestled against Mom, her voice filled with hope. "Mom, can I have a name starting with 'K' like my sister? I never had a proper name before, and I want to be your child, too."
Mom tenderly stroked her hair. "Of course, you can. Since your brother is named Layne, you can be Karina. How does that sound?"
I stood on the stairs, coldly observing the warm scene below, until Dad noticed me. He frowned, looking cautious, as if convinced I was going to do something to Karina.
"Shiloh, stop causing trouble. From now on, Karina is your sister. She’s not well, so you need to take care of her and not bully her. Do you understand?"
I heard the same words as my previous life, and my heart sank. Karina wasn’t well, and as her older sister, I had to let her have her way. I had heard this countless times before. In that past life, once Karina arrived, the love that was solely mine was largely given to her by my parents. Just because she was an orphan and ill, I had to give in to her.
In the end, even the leftovers of affection meant for me were given entirely to Karina. But I was only two months older than Karina! And she was merely my cousin. Why did my parents treat her like their own daughter? Was it just because she could cry?
I vividly remembered the last time I saw Mom in my past life. She looked at me with disdain and said, "Shiloh, I must have spoiled you. You can’t even spare Karina."
Maybe she had forgotten that since Karina came, she had stopped spoiling me. I’m her biological daughter!
My gaze drifted downstairs, and Mom tried to reassure me. "Shiloh, even with Karina here, you'll always be my favorite."
There was a flash of malice in Karina’s eyes that seemed beyond her age, something I wouldn’t have recognized if not for having lived two lifetimes. Then, she turned her gaze and with everyone watching her, asked me, crestfallen, "Sister, do you dislike me?"
I ignored her and turned to go upstairs. Mom called after me, but Dad interrupted, "Let her be. She's been spoiled for too long. If only she were half as sensible as Karina, I’d be delighted."
My grip on the handrail tightened momentarily before I casually returned to my room.
Even though, from the moment of my rebirth, I decided to let go of their love, my heart was still deeply wounded by my own father's words.
