I'm Done Being My Dead Sister's Ghost

For as long as I can remember, I know I'm nothing more than a stand-in for my deceased older sister, Jenna Lockwood.

The day before starting elementary school, Mom and Dad take me to buy a backpack.

With a wide smile, Mom asks me, "Blue or red—which one do you want?"

When I choose blue, Mom's expression changes instantly.

She clamps her hands onto my shoulders and screams hysterically at me, "Why didn't you choose red? Jenna would only ever choose red!"

Dad slaps me right across the face when he sees that Mom is having another episode.