The App That Failed, The Love That Never Was Chapter 02

The App That Failed, The Love That Never Was Chapter 02

I opened my mouth to speak, but Mom slammed a milk carton down hard on the table before me. “You’re too slow to book anything and now you dare question your own sister!”

She rolled her eyes. “Drink this milk and shut your mouth.”

I glanced down. The expiration date was three days past.

Of course. Fresh unexpired milk got saved for Sylvie’s fancy desserts. I never got any of that.

My incision throbbed harder. I could barely sit upright, but I forced myself to stand.

Dad pulled out a chair at the table, barely glancing up. “Isn’t the college decision deadline today?”

My voice came out hoarse. “The deadline was yesterday.”

He gave a noncommittal grunt, scrolling through his phone. “You scored a 1570. You’re a shoo-in for Penn State University.”

His hollow words made my stomach sink.

A 1570 put me well above the typical range for the school Dad had picked out. I had options far beyond that.[太具体了]

Sylvie simply liked that campus. Dad wanted me to enroll there a year ahead of Sylvie just to pave the way for her.

My own prospects never factored in.

I bit my tongue, terrified of letting all my resentment spill out.

My phone buzzed. The hospital nurse called to remind me of my follow-up appointment the next morning, and told me I shouldn’t come to the follow-up alone.

I took a slow breath and looked at my parents. “Will either of you be free tomorrow morning?”

Dad cut me off sharply, “We’re taking Sylvie in for her physical. She submitted her booking request first thing this morning.”

Mom lifted her gaze, annoyed. “How many times do we have to tell you? Everything in this house requires a booking. When will that sink in? Look how well-behaved Sylvie is. She never gives us trouble.”

Sylvie glanced over at me tentatively. “Mom, what if you go with her tomorrow instead?”

Mom patted her hand softly. “Honey, we can’t break household rules. Once you book our time, it’s rightfully yours.”

Dad nodded in agreement. “Your sister chose to be late. She deserves to learn her lesson.”

I bowed my head and pulled up the broken booking app.

A bitter, humorless laugh escaped my throat, half self-mockery, half sorrow.

The “Error” message still glowed on screen. Proof my parents had just told yet another biased lie.

For years I’d lied to myself: it was all my fault, I was always too slow, I had no one to blame but myself.

Lying on that cold operating table, trembling uncontrollably, I finally could not fool myself anymore.

I was never running behind. My parents had favored Sylvie from the very start.

Overwhelmed, I pushed myself up and retreated to my bedroom.

Behind me Mom shouted in frustration. “She’s always so dramatic. It’s exhausting!”

Dad replied flatly, “Let her throw her little fit. If she refuses to follow the rules, the real world will knock some sense into her.”

To them, I sounded like a petty, unreasonable stranger.

No one noticed I had been gone an entire night. No one saw how pale I looked, how I limped through the front door.

I locked my bedroom door and booked a flight out to LA in five days.

My academic advisor had reached out ahead of time. Along with a full-ride scholarship, she had lined up a summer campus job to cover any remaining expenses.

My new life was secured.