My Sister's Secret

binson, to buy a house, my mother drank a bottle of paraqu

nd black blood spewing from her mo

lled it w

aware that this was exa

ealed directly in fr

a house, my mother drank a bottle of paraquat, a d

nd black blood spewing from her mo

laimed, her speech slurred, with bloo

eople regret their actions without

ling around in the hospital, having s

was stil

nd told me that I had to give Marlee one hundred

efu

ege. How could I possibly have

nal preference for sons over daugh

time my mother contacted me,

elp Marlee with something

d her fav

, you must save me! I don't want to

as if I were a rebellious son unwill

nk the pois

t Greenwood Me

o call

w," she rep

e tightly. How cou

poison to force me

felt extremely

ople I resente

lee suddenly asked over the p

hate

always favored Marlee, while I receiv

were twelve

y father died in a co

rely by half a month because of t

ee was always my m

arlee think

t, her organs were faili

a little! I'm

gled, gripping

word "give up", she would pounce on me and str

lood all over me, causin

arrived, nonc

n my clothes, she reache

asked casually, a gent

my spine, finding Marlee

nt, even joyful, while our mothe

ill in critical condi

lancing at me before sitting down and

rged wit

ifferent just becau

n't want, and only by following her could I have the ch

Marlee Robinson, while I w

ce had a yellow dog named Baile

and I was named

hbor that my name had

shoc

y left? That's your mother! Your

sts, afraid I might smash

ind me, I know," she s

drank the poi

ce tre

had done such an outrageous thing, and on the other

rs so that you can buy a house. How can I have 10

my face contorted

ed me, she tried to find way

elessly, earning scholarships, participating

er might have driv

been married

tient, please com

se's words, my

it b

ed to raise two children. Despite her favoriti

now?" I asked

ctor say ther

enly be ready to b

the paperwor

the papers and

wheeled out, tran

eel okay, just a bit of tightness in my chest. Bailey, were y

ed, aside from her pale complexion,

came out, she

ty. Go buy

unfriendly, and she spok

as sitting silently beside

l favored Marlee, ordering me a

e to go," Marl

? It's all Bailey's fault. He claims he has no money, even though hi

Marlee with a fawning s

n't und

y mom to despise me so much? Was

rely that I make her su

ve known anyth

best to be the perfect son, s

m couldn'

cared abo

horoughly search Bailey.

nd my mother's appe

she talki

rely scr

thes I wore were the ones she bought

ll the oldest model, and I trie

't fit in because

scholarships, won competitions, and earn

, I was just alo

y heart that I couldn't tell anyone about. My moth

ding," Marlee sud

id she

, feeling momentarily adrift. What k

been exploiting Bailey.

rds left me

you spouting? Isn

bed, and when she heard t

th such intensity that I th

y falle

Some things can't

mile that filled me with dread.

ut

at Marlee, her face t

Marlee and spoke gently to her, actually y

unbelie

Shane Russell," Marlee sudde

om the blue. I stared

w what she

s husband, and Ai

g Aidan wasn't Shane'

s? I knew you had it

wever, was

ion, I suddenly felt like I was

eplied indifferently, unfazed

ge noise, like a go

you doing? Have you been unfaithfu

my sister was standing aside as if it had n

ged more than enough for me," Marlee sai

Cough, cough... you

d, coughing violently,

nly started vo

d was eerily

that bottle of water back to paraq

you i

er, grabbing h

at! ... Truly ungr

or! D

tly, rushing o

tor and watched as m

he doctor gave u

as reall

one," Marlee said,

y mind unable to proces

react at

ed, turned into a

m home and dumped th

really

in time as she flu

ne! I'm finally

ed and cried, her

r, was my only remaining

could my

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