We Shared a Body They Chose Her Every Time Chapter 01

We Shared a Body They Chose Her Every Time Chapter 01

My sister and I shared the same body, two souls trapped together. Ever since we were little, my family decided who would sleep and who would wake by drawing lots.

The long lot was mine, the short lot was hers. We drew once a month.

When she woke, my parents and brother would take her on trips, camping, traveling around the world, showing her places I had never seen.

When I woke, they locked me in the house and forced me to study all night long.

SATs, law school entrance exams, every hard thing in life, I had to do.

And every time I succeeded, they would draw again at the end of the month and give the short lot to her.

So she could enjoy the rewards of my work without lifting a finger.

Until the day my sister beat the daughter of a local contractor into critical condition at school.

My brother made the decision without any hesitation.

“Tomorrow is the start of the new month anyway. Since we decide who wakes up, let’s bring out Emily and let her take the punishment for Sophia.”

My parents didn’t object at all. Trapped inside my own body, I could only smiled bitterly.

Watching them choose to protect her and make me the scapegoat, my heart finally fell into the abyss.

They didn’t know I had one chance to choose permanent sleep.

My gaze was bitter. After this, I would never be her stepping stone or her shield again.

—

When I opened my eyes, my mother’s anxious face was the first thing I saw.

“Emily? Or Sophia?”

I noticed how her choice of names revealed who she really cared about, but I said nothing. I spoke flatly. “I’m Emily.”

The three of them by the bed exhaled in relief at the same time.

A bitter smile crossed my lips.

Every other time I woke up, they were cold and distant. They just said, “Go study,” and left.

This was the first time they had ever looked at me with any kindness.

And it was only because they needed me to take the fall for Sophia.

My brother frowned.

“Sophia got into a fight with a girl at school. The other girl started it, Sophia was just defending herself.”

“She lost control and injured the other girl, who then had to be taken to the hospital. We wanted Sophia to take responsibility herself.”

“But the lot fell to you, so…”

I clenched my hands under the blanket. My palms stung where my nails dug in.

He way lying. Sophia had started it. She attacked the girl just because she wore the same dress.

I looked up at him. My voice was hoarse. “Really? Was it really random that it fell to me?”

My parents exchanged a look. Their faces went stiff.

My brother’s expression didn’t change. He frowned, impatient.

“Of course it was. A psychic gave us those lots when you were kids. You think we cheated?”

I didn’t ask again.

Any answer would only humiliate me further.

He let out a breath. “Get cleaned up and come down for breakfast. We’re going to the hospital to see that girl’s family.”

The three of them left. The room went quiet. All that was left was my bitter laugh.

The room was decorated exactly the way Sophia liked it. Everything was pale yellow, bright and sunny, just like her.

But I loved black. My black clothes had been tossed aside in the corner, unwanted.

They weren’t even good enough to hang in Sophia’s closet.

A little while later, I came downstairs to the dining table and stared at the mango cupcakes.

Even though we shared one body, our souls were different. Our shared body reacted differently to things.

She loved mangoes, but I was severely allergic to them.

I loved peanut butter. She hated the smell.

But no matter what, the table always had only the things my sister liked.

I looked up. “I’m allergic to mangoes. Did you forget?”

My brother across the table made an annoyed sound.

“You’re so difficult. Sophia can eat them just fine. Why can’t you? You always have to be the problem.”

My heart stung.

“But I’m not Sophia. I’m Emily.”

The table went completely silent. The three of them looked at each other. It was the first time they had ever seen me lose my temper.

My mother quickly tried to smooth things over.

“It’s my fault. I forgot to tell the staff. We’ll change it.”

Peanut butter brownies came out a few minutes later.

I looked down at them, my eyes burning. I took a bite. It tasted like nothing.

My brother looked at me strangely.

“What’s wrong with you this time? Why are you being so difficult?”

I gripped my fork tight and said nothing.

Nothing was wrong. I had spent twenty years watching them love my sister more than me, and this time, I had finally given up.

I didn’t want to be her punching bag or her scapegoat anymore. And I didn’t want to see them again.

So after this month, I was going to disappear. That was all.

My brother didn’t really care what was wrong with me. When I stayed quiet, he didn’t push.

“Let’s go.”

He walked ahead. I reached out instinctively, but my hand closed on empty air.

Right. He only ever held Sophia’s hand. Never mine.

An hour later, I stood outside a hospital room.

My brother frowned at me in warning. “Whatever they do to you in there, you take it. Don’t fight back. We need this settled within a month. Got it?”

I clenched the hem of my dress and pushed open the door.

A thermos came flying toward me and struck my head. A stinging wound lingered on my forehead.

Then came an angry roar.

“You actually dare to show your face again after what you did to my daughter.”