Hearing that, the dean tried to calm my mother down.
"Mrs. Cole, blood donation should be voluntary. If she really doesn't want to do it, then forget it."
With that, he turned and left.
Mom lowered her head and glanced at me. The anger in her eyes only burned hotter.
"So you're still not getting up? Fine. Then stay on the ground while they draw your blood.
"Sharon, just draw it like this. Once you're done, leave her there. If she wants to lie there pretending, let her. Don't let her hold up the students behind her."
After saying that, Mom did not even spare me another look before walking away.
Sharon picked up the needle and blood bag, then jammed the needle viciously into my vein. She did not stop until she had drawn the full four hundred milliliters.
When she finished, she nudged me with her foot.
"You can get up now. The blood's already been drawn, there's no point acting anymore. Besides, Mrs. Cole isn't even here. Nobody's watching your performance."
When I did not move, Sharon let out a mocking laugh and called toward the line behind her.
"Can I get two strong male students over here? Carry this drama queen outside so she doesn't affect everyone else donating blood."
I floated there in midair, watching my body get dumped onto the sidewalk, bitterness swelling in my chest.
Two hours later, the blood drive finally ended.
Some students rubbed their sore arms while glancing in my direction, sympathy flickering in their eyes.
"Briana's pretty weak physically. If they leave her out there in the sun like that, won't something happen?"
Sharon happened to be walking past with the donation records in hand. She rolled her eyes dismissively.
"I know you mean well, but she's obviously faking it.
"You'd better stay away from her too. Be careful she doesn't scam you into paying medical bills. I've seen people like that plenty of times."
Another student who had witnessed the whole thing chimed in immediately.
"Briana just relies on the fact that her mom's a department director. She acts like a spoiled princess all the time and expects everyone to cater to her. Now she's pretending to pass out and embarrassing the entire school."
"Exactly. She's just shameless. She wants everyone to pity her and coax her again."
The students who had been worried about me immediately backed away after hearing that, afraid of getting dragged into trouble themselves.
Listening to all this, Sharon felt much more satisfied.
She turned and walked into Mom's office with the donation records.
"Mrs. Cole, these are today's blood donation records. If everything looks fine, just sign here."
Mom's eyes landed on the line showing I had donated four hundred milliliters, and the tension in her brow slowly eased.
"Where's Briana? Didn't I assign her to help you as a volunteer too?"
Sharon lowered her head, hesitating as though she did not know whether she should speak.
"As for her... I kindly asked someone to help her up earlier, but she said unless you personally went to comfort her, she wasn't getting up."
Mom's expression instantly darkened.
"Mrs. Cole, Briana's been lying there for a long time already. This really can't go on. Why don't you just give in a little? At least get her up first."
Mom slammed the donation records onto the desk, fury erupting in her voice.
"I've spoiled her too much. That's why she's developed such a terrible temper.
"If she refuses to give in, then let her stay lying on the ground forever!"
Under the blazing sun, the temperature kept climbing.
Students around campus gradually stopped lingering outside and hurried back to their dorms.
The smell of decay slowly began to seep from my body, drawing over several stray cats that roamed the school grounds.
I lay there completely helpless, unable to run, unable to call for help.
All I could do was watch as they tore at my flesh with their teeth.
It hurt so much.
My soul desperately drifted toward my mother's office, only to find her happily chatting with Sharon.
Sharon flipped through my mother's notebook with wide-eyed amazement, her face full of envy.
"Wow, Mrs. Cole, are these all the nutritional meals you made for Briana?
"Every dish has instructions and health benefits written down. You must've been keeping this notebook for years."
The moment I saw the notebook in her hands, my eyes stung.
My mother had started writing in it the day I was born. She always said that as long as she followed the recipes inside, I would grow up healthy and strong.
Mother stared at the thick notebook, her gaze briefly turning distant.
Looking at those yellowed pages, she seemed to sink into old memories.
After a long pause, she sighed softly and gently rubbed Sharon's hair.
"If only she were even half as sensible as you."
Just then, the dean hurried into the office.
"Mrs. Cole, isn't your daughter still lying outside? It's over 90 degrees Fahrenheit out there. I heard your daughter's in poor health. If she gets heatstroke, it'll be a real problem."
Mother's hand paused briefly on Sharon's head before she replied indifferently, "She's incredibly spoiled. There's no way she'd actually let herself suffer in the sun."
"Sir, I know my own daughter. She's just throwing a tantrum on purpose. The more attention I give her, the more dramatic she gets. Once she gets tired of lying there, she'll get up herself."
The dean shook his head helplessly, sighed, and left the office.
A few minutes later, someone knocked on the door.
For a brief moment, Mother visibly relaxed. But when she saw the students who entered, disappointment flickered across her face.
I knew it.
She was waiting for me.
However, she would never see me again.
The students had come to collect their scholarship certificates and competition awards.
Mother smiled as she took the certificates out of the drawer, encouraging them to keep working hard in the future.
The students exchanged uneasy glances, guilt flashing through their eyes.
"Mrs. Cole, we should actually be thanking Briana."
"She gave these opportunities to us."
The smile on Mother's face froze instantly.
The air itself seemed to solidify.
Watching her suddenly stiffen, I let out a bitter laugh.
She had always believed that avoiding favoritism meant being fair. But now everyone knew the truth.
Those honors had belonged to me.
I was the one who gave them up.
And she had become the mother who stole her own daughter's achievements, all to preserve her image of fairness.
Mother's expression darkened, her voice filled with disdain.
"You don't need to thank her. She never deserved first place in the first place. She secretly went through my computer before the competition. That's how she won.
"You're the ones who truly earned those awards."
The students looked awkward and quickly took their certificates before hurrying out of the office.
It felt like someone had driven a knife straight through my heart.
Then the office door knocked again.
Sharon immediately looked pleased with herself.
"Mrs. Cole, it must be Briana coming to apologize to you."
Mother cleared her throat, carrying herself with the confidence of a victor.
"Wasn't she acting all stubborn lying on the ground earlier? Now she finally knows to admit she was wrong?
"Briana, if you really know you were wrong, then tomorrow you'll apologize publicly to Sharon in front of the entire school. After that, write an essay on self-criticism about pretending to be dead and damaging the group's reputation, then post it on the bulletin board.
"Otherwise, don't call me your mother anymore."
The knocking continued.
This time it was faster, more urgent.
Annoyed, Mother stood up and yanked the door open.
The moment she saw who was outside, her entire body froze.
Two police officers in uniform stood at the door, their expressions grave.
"Are you Briana's mother?"
Mother paused briefly, irritation flashing across her eyes.
"I am. What is she causing trouble over now? Is she still lying on the ground refusing to get up? Did someone call the police?"
The lead officer did not answer her question.
He simply looked at her heavily and said, "Please accept our condolences. Briana Hayes has passed away."
