My ovarian cyst ruptured, sending excruciating pain through my body. But my parents, my brother, and even my fiancé were all busy celebrating my sister Faith's college graduation.
I lay in a hospital bed, desperately needing a family member's signature for emergency surgery, but every call I made was either ignored or met with an abrupt click.
A moment later, a text from my fiancé, Garrett Prescott, lit up my screen.
"Willow, stop being so dramatic. Today is a huge day for Faith. Whatever it is can wait until the party is over."
I set my phone down and signed the surgical consent form myself.
This wasn't the first time they had chosen my sister, Faith Vaughn, over me. But this time, something inside me shattered.
I wouldn't let their favoritism sting me anymore. Instead, I would play the part of the obedient daughter they always wanted.
They would think I had finally learned my place, never suspecting I was planning to disappear from their lives forever.
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1
For three days in the hospital, my phone remained silent. Not a single message from my family.
I didn't call them again either. I stopped the years-long habit of refreshing their social media feeds, searching for any sign of them.
I just lay there, dragging my weak, post-operative body to follow-up appointments and paying my own medical bills.
The day I was discharged, I didn’t tell anyone. I silently packed my things and, through the stabbing pain in my abdomen, shuffled home.
When I pushed open the front door, the cheerful laughter in the living room instantly froze.
They were all there. My fiancé Garrett's arm was casually draped over Faith's shoulder as he sat nestled beside her on the sofa.
The moment he saw me, he snatched his hand back as if he’d been burned, a guilty smile flashing across his face. "Willow, you're back! Where have you been the last few days?"
My brother, Mason Vaughn, let out a cold snort.
"Where do you think she's been? Sulking somewhere because she didn't want to come to Faith's graduation party."
"She can never stand to see Faith happy. Always has to ruin the mood."
I said nothing, heading straight for my room.
Mason looked surprised that I didn't fight back. Usually, a simple accusation of selfishness from him would send me into a spiral of desperate, tearful explanations.
But this time, I was silent.
My mother approached, holding out a milkshake.
"Willow, honey, we were all so wrapped up in Faith's graduation the other day that we missed your calls. You're not mad at us, are you?" She pressed a peanut butter milkshake into my hand.
My heart was already numb, but a dull ache still throbbed within it.
I’m severely allergic to peanuts. Faith loves them.
So, the house was always stocked with peanut-flavored snacks and drinks. But no matter how many times I told them, no one ever remembered I couldn't even touch them.
I tried to hand the cup back to my mother, taking a small step away. "I'm not angry. I'm just going to my room."
The moment I turned, a loud bang echoed through the house.
My father had shot to his feet, slamming his palm on the coffee table. He roared, "Why the long face the second you walk in? Your mother apologized and even brought you your favorite drink!"
"What's with the attitude? We've spoiled you absolutely rotten!"
My chest tightened until even breathing hurt.
Tears blurred my vision, but I took the cup from my mother's hand and downed the entire thing in one long swallow.
Then, I gently set the empty cup down, wiped the tears from my eyes, and looked at my father with unnerving calm. "Faith is the one who likes peanut butter. I'm allergic."
"But it's okay. I've finished it. Can I go to my room now?"
"Willow! Why didn't you say you were allergic? Who told you to drink it? Why must you be so stubborn!" my mother shrieked, panicking as she patted my back frantically.
My father looked embarrassed but stubbornly retorted, "Well, you could have just said something!"
"You're always so difficult. Nothing like Faith. At least she knows how to talk to people."
From the sofa, Faith's voice drifted over. "Dad, don't say that to Willow. You'll hurt her feelings."
Her voice was gentle, but the triumphant glint in her eyes was impossible to miss.
This was Faith’s favorite game: using my flaws to polish her own halo. She competed with me for everything, never satisfied until I was utterly crushed.
I should have been heartbroken, but my heart was just a hollow cavity. Even this humiliation couldn't faze me anymore.
"I'm sorry," I said. "It won't happen again."
As the words left my lips, everyone in the room just stared at me, stunned into silence.
