I brought the mushroom soup out of the kitchen and saw that the living room had been cleaned. Someone had picked up the pieces of torn photos and drawings, leaving them on the table.

Ellison took the soup I made and seemed happy with it.

As I was about to step away, it looked like he remembered something else.

"Becky's mood has been really up and down lately. Don't be hard on her. I'll get someone to fix those photos and paintings."

With those words, he stopped looking at me and went inside the house.

From the other room, I could hear Becky's whiny voice. "It's too hot, Ellison. Can you cool it down before you feed me?"

"You're impossible..." Ellison answered.

I acted like I did not hear a thing, walked into the living room, and threw all the torn pieces into the trash.

Next, I went to my room and tossed out all my photos and keepsakes.

I was not going to be around much longer, so they did not matter anymore. If Ellison and Becky did not want them, then these things would be thrown away.

While I was cleaning up, I suddenly felt dizzy and sick. I ran to the bathroom and threw up a lot of blood. Looking in the mirror, I saw how skinny I had gotten. My skin was turning yellow as well, and I looked like I had aged years in just moments.

That was when I really knew my time was running out. However, no one seemed to notice.

Later, when my parents got home, the first thing they did was ask about Becky's health.

"Oh, our poor baby girl has been through so much."

"I brought your favorite food. Come taste it," Dad said.

I watched them, all happy together, without showing any feeling.

Ever since that incident two years ago, when a bad guy kidnapped me and Becky stepped in to take my place, she had been the family's hero. She was with that criminal for a whole month before the cops saved her.

Ever since then, she had been really scared of all men, except Ellison.

Ever since then, she had been everyone's favorite.

"You're our daughter's hero! From now on, you're part of our family—the closest person to us!"

My parents kept choosing her over me, not seeing that their darling daughter was slowly being pushed to the sidelines. No matter how stubborn Becky got, I always had to step aside for her, all because she was the one who saved my life back then.

As time went on, Becky kept blaming me for things I did not do, and my own parents started to dislike me more and more.

"What? How can you, as her big sister, get so jealous? Becky's sick. How could you ruin her dress just because you got jealous?"

"When did you start acting like this? Why are you always picking on poor Becky?"

Every time my parents scolded me, I would see Becky behind them. She would pretend to be weak on the surface, but she would secretly shoot me a smug smirk.

Even so, I was thankful to Becky for saving me, so I just kept putting up with everything.

However, one day, I found out the truth about the so-called kidnapping. Becky had not stepped in to save me because she cared. It was all a lie, a show she put on by herself.

It was just a shame that no one in my family believed me anymore.

No matter how much proof I had, they just saw me as someone who was ungrateful.

Becky's room was always full of people who cared about her, but mine was empty unless my family needed something from me.

I watched from a corner as Mom held Becky's hand, fussing over her with loving questions.

"Ellison will take you out for some fun this month to help you relax. You'll feel better in no time."

That was why Ellison had to put off our wedding. Becky's doctor said that traveling could help her feel better, and Ellison was asked to take her on a month-long trip.

They could have gone after the wedding, but Becky would not wait. She even turned the living room upside down until Ellison said yes.

They were leaving tomorrow.

Becky could not stop talking about how much she was looking forward to the trip.

Mom, Dad, and Ellison listened with kind smiles.

Then, Ellison looked at me and said, "Lily, if you want, you can come with us too."

Everything went quiet. It was like I was someone who did not belong there, sticking out like a sore thumb.

I shook my head. "I don't feel good, so I'll pass."

Dad frowned and said, "What's with you, always feeling sick? If you don't want to go, just say so."

Mom scolded me too. "Ellison is being nice by inviting you, and you don't even say thank you?"

I bit my lip so hard that it hurt.

I thought about telling them how sick I was. Actually, I had already tried once before. That day, I coughed up blood, and they saw it happen. They were so worried and asked me what was wrong.

I thought I could finally share the truth with them.

However, Becky came in right then, saw the blood, and started crying and yelling. All of a sudden, it was all about her. She said seeing blood made her think of something scary from before. She even said I knew that and asked why I was pretending to be sick just to frighten her.

After that, no matter how many times I told them I felt sick, my parents did not believe me anymore. They thought I was just faking it.

However, now... I only had a month left.

'If I tell them the truth now, will I still get to feel their care and love for this last month?' I thought to myself.

I took a deep breath, trying to find the courage to tell them the hard truth.

However, Becky spoke up before I could.

"Dad, Mom, don't be mad at her. I know she's never liked me. She'd rather fake being sick than go out and play with me. It's all my fault..."

She started crying again, and Ellison and my parents rushed to comfort her.

Just like that, I was the one faking being sick.

No matter what I said, the people who used to love me most would not believe me anymore.

Becky's crying turned into a painful scream. "Daddy, Mommy, my stomach hurts so bad. Help me..."

Everyone looked worried. Ellison called an ambulance right away, then carried Becky out in a hurry.

I never expected the hospital to say Becky had eaten poisonous mushrooms and needed to have her stomach pumped right away.

Mom slapped me hard across the face. "How could I have raised such a mean daughter?"

I was already weak from being sick, and that slap made my head spin and my ears ring. It took a long time to clear my head. I opened my mouth to say something, but the tears came first.

When I was little, my parents adored me. Even if I just fell down, they would be upset for so long.

However, now, my mom, who used to love me the most, had hit me because of Becky.

The ringing in my ears had not stopped when I heard Dad's voice. "Starting today, you'll be locked in the basement to think about what you've done. You can come out after a week!"

My face went white, and I shook my head. I was scared stiff. "Please, Dad, I'm scared of the dark. Don't lock me in the basement..."

I looked at Ellison, hoping he would help me. However, he just stared back at me, distant and uncaring.

The three people who used to love me did not show any mercy or believe a word I said. They just watched as the bodyguard pulled me away.

The basement was a gloomy, wet place that made me shiver from the cold. I could only wrap my arms around myself to try and stay warm.

At some point, my face started to feel hot. I must have had a fever, but I was too weak to yell for help. I drifted off and had fragmented dreams.

I dreamed about being little again, back before my parents adopted Becky and back when I was their only kid. Dad would laugh and let me ride on his shoulders, spinning me around, while Mom would snap lots of goofy photos.

Suddenly, it was young Becky on Dad's shoulders, and they looked like the perfect family. Meanwhile, I just watched from the side.

I dreamed about Ellison too, about the time he told me he liked me in high school. He was less sure of himself back then but just as serious. He handed me a love letter without a smile on his face.

Then, in a flash, Becky was holding his hand, and all I could see were their backs as I tried to catch up.

When I woke up, my face was wet with tears.

The door to the basement swung open, and the butler gave me a nod. "Ms. Gilbert, Mr. Gilbert says you've been punished enough. You can go now."

I dried my tears, hauled up my heavy body, and went straight to my room to pack. I was not just leaving the basement. I was leaving this house for good.

I did not want my last days to be filled with pain. I just wanted to find a quiet place to be alone and let go.

Mom saw me packing and said in a flat voice, "Ellison and Becky are already on their trip. It's too late for you to catch up with them now."

I stopped for a second, then turned and gave her a weak smile. "Sorry, but I want to go have some fun for a few days."

"Whatever you want. Why didn't you say so sooner? What was with the attitude? Just finish packing and leave quickly. I'm tired of seeing that gloomy face of yours." She did not see the strain in my smile and just teased me like always.

She did not know that her wish was about to come true. She would not have to see me or be bothered by me anymore.

I checked my phone, and there it was—Becky had posted a bunch of updates on her trip with Ellison. They had been to so many places—climbing mountains, watching the ocean, sharing drinks, and walking through forests...

I had been to some of those places with Ellison; others, I had not.

However, looking at those photos, I was not sad anymore. I even felt a little relieved.

Now, Ellison would only have memories with Becky.

As I stepped out with my suitcase, Mom was busy in the kitchen but threw out a, "Be careful and come back soon."

I felt a lump in my throat but managed not to cry.

She always said that when I left. However, she did not know that this time, I was not coming back.