When I was seven years old, I was often starved. So, I had to sneak out for food.

That day, my brother was wearing a birthday hat and was surrounded by people in the living room.

They clapped and sang, "Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday to you..."

My parents gently stroked my brother's hair.

"So, today is my brother’s birthday. So is mine." I thought.

I squatted outside the door and waited, and finally, everyone left.

I ran to the trash can, took out the cake, and started eating it ravenously.

That was the first time I had had cake.

“So, this is how cakes taste.

It's sweet and sour." I thought to myself.

I licked my hands, tied the cake, and took it back to the basement.

There was still a lot left. I planned to enjoy it when I got hungry.

I was holding the bag of cakes and getting ready to sleep when I heard a noise at the door.

I sat up immediately while thinking, "Do my parents come and celebrate my birthday after they realized it?"

I ran to the door with a smile on my face, only to see my dad holding a wooden stick and staring at me viciously. I was so scared that I took a step back.

"Dad..."

"Don't call me dad. I don't have a jinx daughter like you."

That night, my dad beat me so hard that I couldn't stand up. I cried and apologized, "I'm sorry, dad. It's my fault. I shouldn't have stolen food."

Later, I found out that someone who came to the birthday party that day died in a car accident.

My dad thought I had killed him.

I lay on the ground all night. No one gave me medicine or cared about if I was starving.

My stomach was aching, and I knew it was time to eat. But I was so beaten up that I couldn't even get up.

Luckily, my dad didn’t take the cake away. So, I grabbed a handful and stuffed it into my mouth.

It was still sweet. But I felt bitter.

It was mixed with my tears.

My brother and I went to the same kindergarten.

It was my first time leaving the house. I suppressed my excitement and stood next to my dad.

"Remember, don't make any friends or get close to Trevor."

I nodded timidly, keeping my father's words in mind and not daring to talk to anyone.

But there was a girl who always carried a bunny schoolbag and followed me around regardless of my indifference.

"How come you don't talk to me? Don't you like me?"

"Your name is Sophie, and I'm Emily. I'm sure we can be good friends."

"Why do your parents treat you like that? I feel sorry for you. It's okay. I'll love you."

"Sophie. I brought you some food. You won't be hungry anymore."

"This is for you. When your dad beats you next time, just grab it, and you won't feel pain. I will come to you and accompany you."

I couldn't resist her warmth, so I became friends with her.

We played hide-and-seek, went to school, and made clay figures. I had never been so happy.

She would always sneak a lot of food into my bag.

I didn’t really have a schoolbag. I only had a grocery bag to carry my books.

"Sophie, I asked my dad to buy me another bunny schoolbag. I'll bring it to you tomorrow, so we'll have the same schoolbags!"

I looked at her, whose eyes curved with a smile, and smiled, too.

"Okay."

But I never got that schoolbag, and I would never have the chance to get it.

"I told you not to make any friends, but you didn't listen. You are a jinx, and you killed another person. I will beat you to death."

My dad pinned me to the ground and beat me. I held the moon-shaped pendant tightly in my hand and refused to make a sound.

Tears streamed down, wetting the ground.

"Emily, you lied to me. Why didn't you come to accompany me?

Please come back. I will never be friends with you again.” I whispered in my heart.

The girl who followed me around disappeared forever.

People said that I was the one who killed her and that I was a jinx.

Gradually, my reputation as a jinx spread. No one in school talked to me, and even the teachers treated me as if I didn't exist.

They all said that my brother was a lucky star and I was a jinx.

My brother had the same appearance as me, but he lived a completely different life.

I wanted to see my brother, but my dad wouldn't let me approach him.

Therefore, I could only hide behind the trees and watch my brother and his friends play ball, participate in international competitions, give speeches in front of everyone, and learn various skills.

I could only hide in the dark and observe him.

My brother lived in the sunshine, always so cheerful and lively.

I could only live in the shadows, watching him shine like a star.

The only friend I had died because of me.

After I entered high school, it was a new environment, and no one knew that I was a jinx.

My brother was still popular in school. We had the same look but never talked, which made people wonder why.

We had a sports meeting, and my brother and I were in two neighboring classes.

I remembered my dad's warning and chose a seat far away from him.

"Hey. That girl looks so much like you. Is she your twin sister? How come you never mentioned her before?"

I moved my ears and wondered how my brother would reply.

"Well, you'd better stay away from her. Otherwise, she'll get you killed."

"What? No way. This is 21st century. How could you still believe in that?"

The boy in the blue school uniform glanced at me several times, obviously not buying it.

My brother looked over and laughed sarcastically. "She killed my grandmother when she was still in my mom's belly and killed two more people after she was born. She is a jinx. You are my best friend, and I don't want you to get hurt."

I didn’t have to listen anymore. I guess my reputation as a jinx would spread out again.

But unexpectedly, that boy didn't spread the news. Instead, he dared to come to me.

"You must be Sophie Spencer, Trevor's sister. I'm your brother's friend. Nice to meet you."

I was a little stunned when I saw such a cheerful boy suddenly appear in front of me.

I couldn't believe he actually dared to talk to me after hearing what my brother said.

I didn't want to hurt him, so I lowered my head and walked away without replying to him.

"Sophie, why are you so silent? Don't believe those superstitions. Your family is all fine, isn't it?"

The boy followed me and asked me persistently, just like Emily did back then.

Thinking of Emily, I ran away in a hurry.

But he caught up with me.

"Don't run away. Why don't we be friends? If I'm fine, it means you're not a jinx."

I ran faster, but I was weaker than him. So, he soon caught up again.

He came up and grabbed my sleeve. I got scared, and I tried to shake him off.

"What are you doing, Sophie? Didn't our dad warn you not to talk to others, especially my friends? Are you doing this on purpose?"

My brother suddenly appeared and stood in front of the boy angrily.

"Hey, Trevor. You took it the wrong way. I was the one who stopped Sophie and wanted to be friends with her. And your dad went too far. How could he treat his own daughter like that?"

"Gary Luke, stay out of this, and keep your distance from her. She is really a jinx. Just go, Sophie!"

My brother yelled at me. I could see the hatred in his eyes.

"Trevor, I just said a few words to her. Why are you so worked up?"

A sullen and complicated look came on Trevor's face. "Anyway, she is a jinx. Just stay away from her."

I glanced at the boy who spoke out for me, turned around, and left, feeling uneasy.

"Will he also be killed by me?" I wondered.