“Mia’s brother treats her so well. She says girls are supposed to be pampered. Is that true?

“Dad hates me too. He says I took away his wife’s life, that I’m a murderer.

“But if I could, I’d give anything to make things right.”

The diary was already filled with pages of writing. It was something my mom had left behind, and on the cover was a note she had written for me:

“My daughter must be so adorable. I’ll use this journal to record her life.”

I held the diary close to my chest, my nose tingling as I tried to hold back the tears. But I couldn’t stop them from falling onto my legs.

Mom, I miss you so much. But if I see you again, would you hate me too?

I didn’t even remember how I fell asleep. I woke up shivering, curled up in a ball, still clutching the diary tightly.

My eyes felt sore, and after getting ready quickly, I headed to school. It was the only place where I felt any warmth.

“Paige, I can tell you haven’t been eating well. Here, eat something. I brought you some pastries.”

Mia pushed a few pastries toward me, her eyes bright with excitement.

“These are really good! They’re my favorite.”

“I’m not hungry…”

“Grrr...”

“Hahaha, Paige, you can’t fool me! Your stomach says otherwise.”

Mia burst out laughing, nearly out of breath, and shoved a pastry into my hand.

“Come on, eat up. They’re still warm.”

I couldn’t help but smile. “Thank you, Mia.”

“What are you thanking me for? We’re best friends.”

She crossed her arms and playfully pinched my cheek.

Mia was such a good person, the only bright spot in my otherwise dark world. She treated me with kindness and care, not as if I was a burden or a curse.

......

When I got home, the atmosphere felt tense. I was about to head up to my attic room when Dad suddenly called out to me.

“Paige Quinn.”

“Dad…”

Caught off guard, I quickly hid the scars on my hands. I had helped someone rescue their kitten from a tree today, and they gave me twenty dollars. But I accidentally cut my hand in the process.

I knew Dad wouldn’t care about things like this, but I instinctively tried to hide my injuries anyway.

“Is your hand hurt?”

His eyes narrowed slightly before he grabbed my hand.

“It hurts…”

Dad held my arm tightly, and the burn from yesterday hadn’t healed yet.

“I’m taking you to the hospital.”

I was so startled I momentarily forgot the pain.

“No... it’s fine. I can just bandage it myself.”

“We’re going to the hospital.”

His tone was sharp, and I didn’t dare argue.

But what confused me was that when we got there, he didn’t just have my hand treated. Instead, he had me go through a series of tests, more like a complete physical exam. We left without even bandaging my wound.

I glanced down at my still-bleeding hand, then at Dad’s tense expression.

“Dad, I…”

“Quiet!”

I quickly shut my mouth.

Marcus’s health had been deteriorating lately. He often struggled to stand and looked paler by the day. Every time I tried to bring him water, he would shove me away.

“You’ve cursed our family! You killed Mom! And now you want to kill me too? You’re nothing but bad luck!”

I was confused and sobbing, shaking my head.

“Marcus... I don’t know what’s going on. Please tell me, what’s wrong with you?”

“Don’t touch me! You make me sick!”

He shoved me to the ground, and I landed on shattered glass, pain shooting through my palms. I couldn’t help but let out a muffled groan.

“Paige Quinn, go outside. I need to talk to Marcus,” Dad said sternly.

Dad walked in, looking serious, holding a piece of paper in his hand.

I nodded quickly and stepped outside, knowing my place.

Dad was the best doctor around. If anyone could save Marcus, it was him.

......

“We’ve found a kidney donor.”

I had just left the room when I overheard Dad talking to Marcus.

“Is it a match?” Marcus asked eagerly, his voice filled with hope.

“Yes, and she’s agreed. We can schedule the surgery right away.”

Dad’s voice was calm as usual, but relief washed over me. Marcus was going to be okay.

Back in the attic, I wrote in my diary: “Today, we found a way to save Marcus. I’m not exactly sure what a donor is, but I know it means he’s going to be okay. I’m so happy.

“When Marcus gets better, I’ll cook all kinds of delicious food for him. Mom wrote in her diary that before I was born, Marcus promised he’d protect me forever. I believe in Mom, and I believe in Marcus. They’ll forgive me.”

I was in the middle of writing when a sudden knock on the door made me jump. I rushed to open it, and there stood Dad, his expression cold and stern.

He didn’t say a word. Instead, he handed me a piece of paper. I unfolded it and saw the words “Compatible Match.”

I froze. The name had been blacked out, but I recognized the date. It was the same day Dad took me to the hospital.

So the one who could save Marcus was me?

Thud!

Dad’s tall frame suddenly dropped to his knees in front of me. I was so startled I took a step back, but then quickly reached out, trying to help him up.

“Dad, what are you doing? Please get up.”

“Paige…” His voice cracked as he said my name, tears in his eyes. “Please save him. Save Marcus…”

I was stunned, my fingers frozen in place. It was the first time Dad had ever called me by my name like that, and it was to ask me to save Marcus.

Marcus was sick, and I was the only one who could help him. If I did this, would he finally acknowledge me?

Everyone was right. It seemed I had always owed them a life. But it hurt to realize they had never truly seen me as family.

“Dad…” I put my hand on his shoulder. In my memories, he was always so tall, so distant, like he couldn’t even see me.

But now I realized he could see me. He just never bothered to look down.

“I’ll do the surgery. But can you promise me one thing?”

Lying on the operating table, I glanced at my father, who stood beside me with a scalpel in his hand.

Next to me, Marcus lay unconscious.

He couldn’t stand the sight of blood, so they put him under.

But I had to stay awake. Anesthesia wasn’t good for the kidney, and Marcus needed it to be in the best condition.

I looked at the nearly eight-inch-long scalpel and felt a wave of fear wash over me. But I forced myself to stay calm.

As long as I could save Marcus, it would all be worth it. And Dad had promised me that losing one kidney wouldn’t kill me.

For five long hours, I watched as my kidney was carefully removed and placed into Marcus’s body. My vision blurred, and breathing became more difficult.

When Dad finally finished with Marcus, he let out a deep sigh of relief and looked at him with such tenderness. I lifted my hand, trying desperately to reach them.

But I felt so weak. I had made plans to have Mia over, to introduce her to Dad and Marcus after they forgave me.

“Dad, please… just look at me… it hurts so much…” I whispered silently to myself.