In the new house, my parents decided Chloe had been through a trauma and needed her friends over to play.

Early in the morning, my mom dressed her up like a castle princess, with a poofy dress, crystal slippers, and a crown on her head.

My dad filled the house with balloons and set out a table with all kinds of little cakes and gifts.

They even prepared small party favors for all the friends who were coming.

All of this was just to make Chloe happy.

And here I was, following them to this strange new house, with nothing that belonged to me.

All they ever left for me were their cold, turned backs. With them in it, the house was just as cold as it was empty.

Just then, there was a knock on the door. Chloe’s friends had arrived.

I recognized some of them; they were the same kids who helped Chloe bully me at school. Others were new faces.

“Hi Mr. and Mrs. Miller, we came to see Chloe. This is for her.”

They politely handed over their gifts.

So, they were just like Chloe. Perfectly sweet and well-behaved in front of adults.

Chloe came out of her room.

“You guys are here! I’m all better now. Come on, let’s play over here. My mom and dad got all this for you guys—snacks, toys, you’re gonna love it.”

They all politely moved to the side.

You’d never know they were the same kids who poured water on me at school, who pulled my hair, ripped up my books, and threw dead bugs in my desk.

I wondered, wasn’t it tiring, switching between two faces all the time?

Suddenly, one of them brought me up.

“Hey Chloe, where’s Anna?”

If they hadn’t mentioned me, I think everyone in this house would have forgotten I even existed.

Hearing my name, the smile on my mother’s face instantly vanished.

“You’re all here to play with Chloe today, so let’s have fun. We won’t talk about that heartless girl.”

Chloe’s face fell into a pout.

“Mommy, is sister still mad at me? Can’t you please bring her home?”

My dad walked over.

“She’s a cold-hearted brat. She can come back when she feels like it. If she doesn’t, she can just die out there. It would save us the trouble of her being in our way. It would be for the best, really.”

As my dad said that last part, I saw a smirk flash across his lips, and a look of triumph on Chloe’s face.

“Mr. Miller, it’s probably better that Anna doesn’t come back. You have no idea how she bullies Chloe at school.”

“Yeah, Anna’s the worst. She tells us not to play with Chloe, and she steals Chloe’s lunch money.”

“I even saw her pull Chloe’s hair and rip up her books.”

...

The kids all started talking at once, listing all my supposed crimes.

My parents’ faces were a storm of emotions, but mostly, it was pure embarrassment.

I knew they believed every word.

In their minds, I was the evil one who bullied my little sister.

Because they had never, not once, tried to get to know me.

A strange kind of sorrow welled up inside me. I was their own daughter.

We were connected by blood, but we were more like strangers who just happened to be familiar with each other.

My mother’s face was pale as she turned and walked towards the bedroom. I had no choice but to follow.

She took out her phone, hesitated for a long moment, and then finally called Lisa.

Lisa was my mom’s colleague on the rescue team, and one of the few bright spots in my life.

Besides my grandma, she was the only one who was ever nice to me.

Lisa would sneak me food when my parents locked me on the balcony, she’d take me to her house when they kicked me out, and she’d always get me a separate present on my birthday.

Lisa picked up right away.

“Sharon? What’s up? It’s so late…”

My mom’s angry voice cut her off.

“Is that damn girl Anna with you? You tell her to get her butt home and apologize to Chloe right now. If she doesn’t come back, you can tell her not to bother coming back ever.”

“You know what, just put her on the phone. I’ll tell her myself.”