I’ve Been Suspicious Since The Day I Was Born Chapter 01

I’ve Been Suspicious Since The Day I Was Born Chapter 01

I’ve been paranoid since the day I was born.

Even the most suspicious person in history would have nothing on me.

As a baby, I wouldn’t drink milk unless my mom fed me—I was terrified someone else would scald me.

In elementary school, I spent every class hiding under my desk, convinced the ceiling fan would fall and slice my head off.

In middle school, I’d check the front door at least six times before leaving, so I was late every single day.

Even after I took the SATs, my parents tried to calm me down.

“Your scores are out, and you’ve submitted your applications. You can relax now, right?”

But I was still on edge.

“The housekeeper’s daughter is my age, and she scored two hundred points lower than me. She’ll definitely change my application!”

For the first time in eighteen years, my gentle parents lost their temper.

Mrs. Shaw, who’d worked for us for ten years, started crying.

“If you don’t trust us, miss, we’ll leave.”

“I thought if we gave our hearts, we’d get hearts in return. Even servants, after all these years, are like family. I never expected…”

“We’re poor, but we’re not bad people!”

My parents had to beg her to stay.

I didn’t budge.

I logged into the system one minute before the deadline.

Just as I thought—my Stanford application had been changed to Stanfail Community College.

—

I switched it back to Stanford in the final seconds.

As the portal officially closed, I calmly logged out.

For eighteen years, I’ve rehearsed every possible way someone could hurt me.

Walking down the street, I calculate the odds of a billboard falling and the best escape route.

If someone hands me a drink, I run through all the ways they could have poisoned it.

Before bed, I check every lock, every window, the gas valve.

I keep a fire hammer and duct tape in my nightstand.

They call it paranoia.

I call it being prepared.

Today, my preparation paid off.

In the living room, my parents were chatting with Mrs. Shaw, who’d been with us for ten years.

Her daughter Nina was scrolling through her phone, a smug smile barely hidden.

“Mom. Dad.”

My voice wasn’t loud, but it cut through everything.

They all turned to me. My dad was still smiling.

“What’s up, Elena? Can’t wait for your acceptance letter?”

I walked to the TV and blocked their view.

My eyes locked on Nina.

“Someone changed my college application.”

The air went dead.

My dad’s smile froze.

“What… what do you mean?”

“You know exactly what I mean.”

I said it slowly, dragging my eyes across Nina’s face.

Nina shot up from the couch, her eyes instantly red.

“Elena, what are you implying? Why are you looking at me? Are you accusing me?”

“Who else?” I shot back.