Mother said my little sister was born for me.

I'm not healthy. They raised my little sister to be my future bone marrow donor.

'But what did my little sister do to deserve this?'

'Don't worry, Little Sister. From now on, I'll be the one to protect you!'

'They won't let my little sister take the College Admissions Exams, demanding she come to the hospital for testing first? Fine by me! If she can't take the exams, I'll just die!'

'They say we have no money and want my little sister to stay home to take care of me? Fine! I'll pull out my own oxygen tube!'

'Soar high, Little Sister. I've got your back!'

1

Mother was arguing with the doctor again, demanding to know when my body would be ready for a bone marrow transplant.

The doctor explained helplessly that my body still wasn't ready and that I needed to rest and recuperate more.

Mother's voice was sharp and shrill. "My Ellie can't wait any longer! If we miss the optimal window for the transplant, how will you compensate us?"

The doctor frowned, unable to hide his dismay. "Mrs. Shaw, your other child is your daughter too, you know!"

"Some daughter. If it weren't for my Ellie, she never would have been born. I wouldn't have had her otherwise."

My mother's piercing words made the people around us turn to stare.

The knife my little sister was using to peel fruit for me dropped to the floor. The corners of her eyes were bright red.

With her back to me, she wiped away her tears. Even her crying was silent.

I let out a loud cough. My little sister rushed to my side, and Mother's face paled as she hurried over as well.

She shoved my little sister aside, her voice laced with resentment. "It's all your fault, you jinx. Get away from your sister. Don't you know that seeing you so healthy just agitates her?"

I gripped Mother's hand tightly, my voice weak. "Mother, don't you dare talk to my little sister like that again. I've already told you—I'm not getting the transplant."

As soon as I finished speaking, tears started rolling down Mother's cheeks.

"Ellie, my poor, poor Ellie..."

I looked at the white hair at her temples and thought about how she had spent the last twenty years running herself ragged over my illness.

I could never hate her. It was just that Mother was sometimes too cruel to my little sister.

I glanced over at my little sister, who was silently peeling a piece of fruit. She was always so quiet and obedient.

She was wearing clothes that had been washed until they were faded and white. She was so thin and frail that at eighteen, she looked more like fifteen or sixteen. It made my heart ache.

I pulled my gaze away and said to Mother in a wheedling tone, "Mother, I want to eat dinner from Heaven's Feast. I want the ones with beef filling, the ones with corn filling, and the pork and scallion ones, too."

"But..."

"I know I can't finish it all, but my little sister will be here, right? I want to try them all. I guess she can just have my leftovers."

Mother quickly agreed. "Alright, alright." As she walked out the door, she shot my little sister a glare.

"Bonnie Sterling, you take good care of your sister. If I find out you..."

"Mother..." I cut her off instinctively.

Seeing my serious expression, Mother immediately plastered on a smile to placate me. "I won't say it, I won't say it. Ellie, dear, don't be unhappy."

I nodded.

: Guaiguai

2

Only my little sister and I were left in the room.

I waved her over. "Bon-Bon, come here. Sister has a treat hidden for you."

My little sister's eyes lit up, and she ran toward me, her eyes shining.

"Sister..."

I made two fists and held them out.

"Alright, Bon-Bon, guess which hand it's in."

My little sister answered without hesitation, "Your left hand."

I opened my left hand. Inside was a piece of liqueur chocolate.

"Bon-Bon guessed right. The prize is a liqueur chocolate."

Seeing the worried look in her eyes, I quickly explained, "Sister didn't eat any. I asked one of the young nurses to buy them, just for Bon-Bon."

Only then did my little sister's face light up, but her brow furrowed a moment later. "Sister, I won't eat it."

I remembered what Mother said—that my little sister wasn't allowed to touch anything I couldn't eat. She'd said, 'If you can't enjoy it, what right does she have to?'

Even the clothes I'd bought for her online, splurging out of love, she rarely wore around me.

That was because Mother had once said that if my little sister dressed up so nicely and looked so healthy, it would upset me.

I looked at my little sister seriously. "Bon-Bon, you are you, and I am me. You don't have to be sad about what Mother says. Sister loves seeing you eat happily and dress beautifully. More than anything, I want you to live your own life, not in my shadow. Otherwise, Sister won't be able to rest easy in the afterlife."

My little sister's eyes immediately reddened. She threw her arms around my waist like a child and said through her sobs, "Sister, you'll be okay. You have to live."

I didn't answer, just gently stroked my little sister's hair.

"Little Sister, is the candy good?"

I asked curiously.

My little sister quickly took it out and took a bite. "Mm, it's a little sharp, and the chocolate is a bit bitter, but together, it's delicious."

I nodded, already thinking about what to ask the nurse to buy next time.

: 3

3

My condition deteriorated, and I was admitted to the ICU again.

While I was unconscious, I could see the terror in Mother's eyes and Little Sister's tear-streaked face.

I opened my mouth, wanting to tell them not to cry.

But I couldn't get the words out.

I don't know how much time passed before I woke up again. I saw a slap mark on Little Sister's face and stroked it, my heart aching.

I raised my hand and slapped myself across the face.

The act startled Mother and Little Sister. It didn't actually hurt much. In my weakened state, I didn't have the strength to hit hard.

I smiled gently at Mother. "Mother, if you hurt Little Sister again, then whatever you do to her, I'll do to myself. I know you dote on me the most, and I can't bring myself to resent you, so I'll just have to be the one to suffer instead."

Mother hugged me, sobbing as she let out all her pent-up anguish.

I patted Mother's back.

"Mother, Little Sister is your daughter too. I'm so glad you gave me a little sister. I hope you'll treat her well."

Tears streamed down Little Sister's face as she looked at me, her lips silently forming the word "Sister."

I gave her a reassuring smile.

'I hope my smile wasn't too ugly.'