Chapter 2
474 Words
My soul lingered at the doorway. It might not be my home, but it was where my mom was.
I wanted to know why she hadn't answered my calls.
Outside the villa, luxury cars lined up in rows.
The entrance was alive with colorful lights and balloons.
It felt so vibrant.
I floated through the front door and was greeted by a sea of people inside.
My ten-year-old brother stood in the center, a five-tier cake in front of him.
He clasped his hands and bowed his head as he made a wish.
Mom and my stepfather stood beside him, their eyes filled with love for him.
I envied them. Mom, how long had it been since you looked at me like that?
As he blew out the candles, cheers erupted around the room.
Today was my brother's tenth birthday.
It was also my birthday.
I had followed Mom, watching her bustle around the house.
There was a nanny at home. Why was she so busy?
Was it because she cared?
She didn't want anything to go wrong at this birthday party.
Mom had always been like this. My brother and stepfather meant the world to her.
When I was nine, Mom married my stepfather and brought me along.
Because it was a second marriage with a daughter, my stepfather's family looked down on her.
I knew I was an extra burden. It was my presence that brought judgment and scorn upon her.
I tried hard to keep a low profile, helping out around the house like a little maid.
But ironically, my efforts only made me feel more insignificant in their eyes.
Mom felt sorry for me. She would say, "Now that I've married into this family, you are the little princess in this house. Don't lower your head or act like a servant. We should hold our heads high."
At that moment, I could tell Mom cared about me.
But everything changed with the birth of my brother.
Once she had a son for my stepfather, her status seemed to soar.
The entire family accepted her, and I became the odd one out in this house.
At first, Mom defended me.
But as my brother grew, she gradually stopped noticing me.
I could see Mom only twice a day, once in the morning before school and again in the afternoon after school.
In the morning, Mom would say, "Lucas, hurry up. You'll be late for school."
"Lucas, eat more. You need to stay healthy and grow tall."
In the afternoon, she would say, "Lucas, after you finish eating, I'll take you to the amusement park."
"Lucas, let's take a bath and then get some rest."
Every day, I watched their joyful family life unfold while feeling like an outsider.
Eventually, I realized the truth. I was indeed the outsider in this family.
- Writer
