After I Blew Out My Sister’s Candle, My Parents Stopped Loving Me Chapter 01

After I Blew Out My Sister’s Candle, My Parents Stopped Loving Me Chapter 01

I was the precious daughter my mother had nearly died bringing into the world, and my whole family adored me for it.

When I was born, I weighed almost ten pounds.

My grandparents set up a trust fund for me on the spot. My parents even raised a small herd of prize Jerseys on our estate so I could always have the freshest milk.

The entire family revolved around me. I used to think I was the luckiest little girl in the world.

But on Chloe Whitmore’s birthday, I accidentally sneezed and blew out the candles on her cake.

She burst into tears on the spot. “You stole all their love from me, and now you’re stealing my birthday wish too?”

“I hate every single one of you!”

Chloe ran out the door and disappeared into the night.

My grandparents shot me a cold look. “To think she’s this manipulative at such a young age. Imagine what she’ll be like when she grows up.”

Then they hurried after Chloe in a panic.

My mother slapped me across the mouth. “You nearly killed me before you were even born. I should’ve known you were rotten from the start!”

My father grabbed me by the collar and dragged me toward the attic, his grip like iron.

“If Chloe doesn’t come back, you can stay in there and think about what you’ve done for the rest of your life!”

The attic door slammed shut with a bang.

My parents’ footsteps faded farther and farther away until I couldn’t hear them anymore.

Very quickly, my whole body started itching, and I couldn’t breathe.

They had to have forgotten in the heat of the moment that I was severely allergic to dust.

If I didn’t take my medicine within a few minutes, I would die.

******

The itching was primal, as if a thousand fire ants were burrowing under my skin.

I clawed at myself desperately until the metallic tang of blood filled the stagnant air.

I shoved at the door, trying to get out, but it wouldn’t budge.

That was when I remembered: my parents had installed a lock on the attic door years ago so Chloe and I couldn’t hide in there during games of hide-and-seek.

And in his anger, my father had locked it.

Terrified, I kicked at the door with failing strength, but no one came.

Chloe had run away upset. They had probably all gone out to look for her.

But my throat felt like an invisible hand was crushing it shut. I was suffocating so badly my chest hurt.

Then I heard hurried footsteps outside.

A flicker of hope lit up inside me. Mom and Dad had to have remembered the lock. They’d come back for me.

The next second, I heard my mother’s voice, sharp with frustration.

“We checked every room. Chloe’s not here!”

“She stormed out of the house. How could she possibly have come back already? Why did you insist on coming home first?”

“If anything happens to Chloe, I… I won’t survive it!”

My mother broke into sobs.

My father tried to soothe her anxiously. “Don’t say that. Chloe’s a good girl. She wouldn’t go far.”

“She probably just found somewhere to hide. She’ll be fine.”

“Let’s go check the way to her friend’s house again.”

No. They were leaving again.

Panic surged through me, but no sound came out of my throat. My body felt impossibly heavy, and I couldn’t move.

Then my father suddenly asked, “Have you seen Ellie?”

“She’s not still up in the attic, is she?”

My mother answered impatiently, “She’s probably curled up in her room under the covers, crying.”

“We spoiled her too much. She upset Chloe so badly that she ran away, and somehow Ellie’s the one acting wronged.”

“Forget about her. Finding Chloe matters more. She isn’t the only child we have to worry about.”

Then they rushed off again.

The instant the door shut, I saw a single lit birthday candle standing on top of my favorite My Little Pony cake.

My whole family was gathered around me, smiling and singing.

“Our sweet Ellie is the family’s little princess. We hope our girl grows up happy and carefree.”

Then, all at once, the candle went out.

Chloe flung the cake to the floor, crying as she pointed at me. “This is my birthday! What gave you the right to blow out the candles?”

“I hate every one of you!”

In an instant, my family vanished.

I lowered my head and stared at the dust motes dancing in the dark, whispering to myself, “I really didn’t mean to blow out the candles.”

“The sneeze came so suddenly. I didn’t even have time to cover my mouth…”

Before I could finish, a transparent little figure drifted through the attic door.