Chapter 1

On the day my family buys a new car, everyone excitedly starts making plans for the future.

On Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, they'll drive my brother, Jake Walt, to the science museum. On Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, they'll take my mom to the gym. Most importantly, they'll drive my younger sister, Emily Walt, to and from college every day.

Even though she's required to live on campus, my parents can't bear to let her commute alone, so they'd rather make the six-mile round trip every single day. They map out everyone's schedule except mine.

When I leave for graduate school, I take a rideshare by myself. But after Emily uses my payment account to buy herself a new phone, I no longer have enough money to pay the toll and the driver abandons me at a highway rest stop.

Stranded under the blazing sun, I call home, hoping for help. Instead, I'm met with nothing but blame.

My parents scold me for inconveniencing them. "We're taking Emily to school. You expect us to turn around and waste all that gas?"

My childhood friend, Patrick Green, says I brought it on myself. "I warned you not to go so far away for grad school. This is your own fault."

Jake mocks me. "You made good money over the summer, didn't you? You're old enough to figure this out yourself instead of expecting everyone to rescue you."

Looking at the money left in my wallet—the rest of my summer earnings already "borrowed" to buy Emily's college supplies—I finally realize the truth.

In this family, I'm never treated like a daughter.

When the elevator is overloaded, they push me out without hesitation. When the new house's fingerprint lock only allows five users, they give the last spot to Emily's dog instead of me.

If there's never been room for me in this family, then it's time to stop trying to force my way in.

Chapter 1

Lauren's POV

By nightfall, I still hadn't managed to hitch a ride home.

The moment my best friend, Mabel Sink, and her parents found out, they didn't hesitate. They drove nearly 100 miles from the neighboring city just to pick me up.

Between the heat exhaustion and the stomach problems I'd struggled with since I was a kid, I started feeling nauseous not long after I got in the car.

I fought to keep it down, but I couldn't. I threw up all over the back seat.

The sour stench filled the car almost immediately.

Panic hit me like a freight train. My mind went blank as I frantically reached down, trying to scoop up the mess with my bare hands.

Mabel caught my wrist before I could.

"It's just a car," she said. "You matter more."

Mrs. Sink gently tucked a loose strand of hair behind my ear before wiping my mouth with a wet wipe. Mr. Sink quietly turned up the air conditioning, making sure the vent wasn't blowing directly on me.

Not one of them looked disgusted. All I saw on their faces was concern.

I stared at them, stunned. So this was what it felt like to make a mistake and be met with kindness instead of anger.

Everything I'd bottled up for the past 18 years came crashing down.

Tears streamed down my face, the bitter taste still lingering in my mouth. And just like that, I was reliving the summer I was ten years old.

My little sister, Emily Walt, had been begging for ice cream that day. I looked away for just a moment, and she was gone.

From that day on, I became the family's scapegoat.

Mom and Dad dragged me through the neighborhood, searching for her until sunrise.

My older brother, Jake Walt, tore my favorite doll to pieces.

"If Emily never comes home, we'll never forgive you," he said.

After that, I started getting up before dawn every morning to do the housework, desperate to make up for what I'd done.

One day, I was carrying a pot of soup when my foot slipped. The pot tipped, sending scalding broth down my legs. Dad didn't even notice.

Mom shrieked and shoved me out the front door, while Jake looked at me like I deserved every second of it.

Curled up on the cold apartment landing, I spent the longest, coldest night of my life.

Three years later, Emily was finally found.

But after three years in captivity, she wasn't the same little girl who'd disappeared. She'd become angry, volatile, and selfish.

Somehow, my family decided that was my fault, too.

To make up for everything she'd been through, they gave her the best of everything.

When we moved into a new house, she got the bright, spacious master bedroom. I was sent to the cramped attic, where it baked in the summer and froze in the winter.

Emily loved spicy food. From then on, every meal was made to her taste, and there was rarely a single dish I could eat.

Whenever Dad came home from a business trip, he'd bring Mom expensive skincare, Jake the latest sneakers, and Emily whatever collectible she wanted.

He unpacked everything he'd brought home, but not a single item was meant for me.

I wasn't allowed to cry. I wasn't allowed to complain. Because the answer was always the same.

"Your sister suffered because of you. You owe her this much."

I'd always believed that if I never fought my sister for anything, there'd eventually be a place for me in that family.

But I was wrong. There had never been a place for me in there.

I arrived on campus a little after nine that night.

With no one to help me, I hauled my luggage up in three separate trips before I finally got everything into my dorm.

Once I was done, I checked my phone. Just as I'd expected, the family group chat had exploded with messages. Not one of them mentioned me.

While I'd been standing alone in the scorching heat, overwhelmed and not knowing what to do, they'd been helping my sister settle into her dorm.

They'd made her bed, cleaned her desk, and gotten her room ready before she'd even unpacked. They'd even taken her new roommates out for barbecue, hoping they'd look after her.

Mom had sent a full minute of voice messages, filled with worry for Emily.

"Sweetheart, don't turn the AC down too low. And make sure you keep a blanket on at night."

Even Dad, who was never one to show his emotions, sounded like he was holding back tears. "If you ever need money, just tell me. Don't go without."

Jake didn't say a word. He just kept sending her money.

My own inbox, meanwhile, was almost empty. The only message waiting for me was from Patrick Green.

It read, "Text me when you get to campus."

I closed WhatsApp, too exhausted to look at it any longer. Then I opened my email and wrote to my advisor.

"Mr. Carter, I've made my decision about the 4+2 program you mentioned."

Chapter 2

Lauren's POV

Three months had passed since the semester began, and not a single person from my family had reached out.

I'd been so busy putting together the application materials that I barely had time to dwell on it.

One morning, I skipped breakfast again and ended up with a severe stomach flare-up.

I'd gotten used to handling it alone. I checked myself in, got an IV, picked up my medication, and spent the rest of the afternoon recovering before I was finally well enough to leave.

The doctor told me there was a shadow on my stomach. It could be something serious. He said I should prepare myself and let my family know they should prepare too.

I stared at the scan results in my hand, a dull ache settling in my chest. If Mom, Dad, and Jake found out I might have cancer, would they finally feel guilty? Or would they just see me as one more burden?

I was still lost in my thoughts when a text from Jake popped up. "Today is yours and Emily's birthday. We booked a private room at Seaview Hotel."

The invitation caught me completely off guard. For a brief moment, I didn't know what to think. Maybe they'd finally realized how badly they'd neglected me.

Before I could even reply, another message came through. "A fortune teller said this is Emily's milestone birthday. It would bring bad luck if anyone were missing, so don't be late."

My heart sank. So that was the only reason they'd bothered to invite me. Even this tiny act of kindness was because of Emily.

I let out a bitter laugh.

Even so, I stopped by a bakery and ordered a birthday cake.

My application had been approved, and I'd be leaving for Amysta in three days. I'd treat this birthday dinner as my final goodbye.

I booked the earliest train I could. Of course, that was the day a torrential downpour hit, and traffic came to a standstill.

The rain only grew heavier. Afraid I'd be late, I gritted my teeth, threw open the car door, and ran straight into the storm.

The moment I pushed open the door to the private dining room, the lively chatter died. They all turned toward me.

Dad was the first to frown. "Couldn't you have left earlier? You've kept everyone waiting."

Mom set down her fork, her voice edged with annoyance. "Emily's birthday only comes once a year. You're her sister. The least you could've done was be here on time."

Jake looked at me coldly. "You soaked yourself on purpose just to play the victim, didn't you? Or are you just trying to ruin everyone's night?"

Only Patrick stood up and held out a towel. "Here. Dry off before you catch a cold."

I took the towel but didn't use it. My throat tightened.

It wasn't a towel at all. It was a cleaning rag, and it reeked.

I set the birthday cake on the table, wished Emily a happy birthday, and turned to leave. Then, at the worst possible moment, my stomach growled.

Only then did I remember. The only thing I'd eaten all day was a bowl of oatmeal, and my stomach was still cramping.

An awkward silence fell over the room.

Mom shot me a glance before pressing me down into the extra chair they'd dragged over. "Alright. At least you've learned your lesson. Sit down and eat."

I sat down without a word. It wasn't until then that I actually looked at the table.

The shrimp shells were piled into little mountains, and the soup bowls had already been scraped clean. They'd already finished eating. They hadn't even bothered to leave me a clean set of utensils.

No one suggested ordering something else, and no one asked what I wanted to eat. They all assumed I'd do what I'd done my entire childhood—finish whatever everyone else had left behind.

My fingers tightened around the test results inside my bag. For reasons I couldn't explain, I suddenly found the courage I'd never had before.

I pushed Emily's half-eaten pasta away from me. "Mom, Dad, Jake… I'm not eating leftovers anymore. The doctor said I might have—"

Before I could finish my sentence, the lights in the private room went out with a sharp click.

A server wheeled in a birthday cake nearly as tall as they were. Patched on top was a plastic figurine made to look just like Emily.

The next second, my family began to sing "Happy Birthday" in perfect unison, drowning out the rest of my words.

Patrick placed the birthday crown on Emily's head as she closed her eyes, clasped her hands together, and made a wish.

Mom and Dad wrapped an arm around her from either side. They looked at her like she was the most precious thing in the world.

Jake handed me the camera. "Take the picture."

As I pressed the shutter, my vision blurred.

It was my birthday too, but they'd only ordered one cake. None of them had wished me a happy birthday.

When I finished taking the photos, I quietly folded up my test results and slipped them back into my pocket.

Their world was already too full to make room for me. Maybe it was finally time for me to leave.

Chapter 3

Lauren's POV

It was still pouring outside by the time dinner ended.

Dad pulled the car up to the hotel entrance.

As always, Emily slipped into the front passenger seat without a second thought. She'd gotten carsick ever since she was little. That seat had always been hers.

Mom climbed into the back, and Jake took the seat beside her.

Just like every other time, Patrick was about to get in when he suddenly glanced back at me.

Something in my expression must have given me away. He stepped back from the car. "Mr. and Mrs. Walt, I just remembered I have something to take care of. I'll find my own way home tonight. Lauren got caught in the rain today. Let's not make her take a cab home."

My heart skipped a beat. For one foolish moment, I thought I'd finally get to ride home with my family.

Then Emily leaned out from the front passenger seat. "No way! You promised we'd stay up all night and play board games together. If you break your promise, you're a liar!"

Jake immediately grabbed Patrick by the arm and pulled him into the car. Then, he looked back at me. "Just get yourself an Uber. It's only a little over a mile. It's not that far."

Mom never looked up from her phone while Dad was already starting the engine.

Before I could say a word, the car roared away. Its tires sent muddy water splashing over me. I shivered from the cold.

The rain only grew heavier. I waited by the curb for two hours, but no driver accepted my ride request. In the end, I had no choice but to walk home in the rain.

By the time I got there, I was soaked to the bone and couldn't stop sneezing.

Laughter echoed from the living room. My family was in the middle of a board game, and no one even noticed I'd come home.

Mom had sliced up a plate of fruit. She'd even scooped out the sweetest part of the watermelon and set it aside for Emily.

When she finally noticed me, she handed me an old towel. "Honestly, how do you always end up in such a mess?"

I took it. For just a second, I thought she cared. Then her next words chilled me to the bone.

"Dry yourself off. Your sister's health isn't great. Don't catch a cold and give it to her."

I didn't say anything and headed for my room—the one that had once been a storage room.

The moment I pushed open the door, I froze. It was packed from floor to ceiling with other people's things.

The closet was crammed with Emily's old cosplay costumes and props. My desk had become a dumping ground for Jake's outdated game consoles. The few clothes and pairs of shoes I still kept at home were gone.

But none of that mattered. The culture dishes I'd left behind for my research were gone, too.

I rushed back into the living room. "Where are my culture dishes?"

Emily barely looked up. "Culture dishes? You mean that gross green bacteria? I didn't want it getting on my wigs, so I threw it away."

My mind went blank. The cultures couldn't be moved halfway through the incubation process, so I'd left them at home instead of taking them with me.

Before I left, I'd reminded them over and over again not to touch them.

Now I realized it didn't matter. No one had been listening in the first place.

"How could you go into my room and throw my things away? Those weren't bacteria. They were—"

Mom cut me off before I could finish. "You have some nerve complaining. Your room was filthy, and you left that disgusting bacteria growing in there. I gave birth to you. You think I need your permission to throw out a few of your things?"

Dad chimed in, "Besides, you're barely home anymore. Leaving that room empty is a waste. Do you really expect your brother and sister not to use it just because you're away?"

Jake didn't think it was a big deal either. "So it got thrown out. Just grow another batch. Do you have to make such a fuss and ruin everyone's night?"

Patrick reached for my hand. "Lauren, that's enough. We'll start over. I'll help you grow a new culture."

One after another, they took each other's side. And just like always, I was the outsider.

Chapter 4

Lauren's POV

My throat felt tight. There was so much I wanted to say. Then, all at once, it didn't seem worth saying anymore.

I turned, ran toward the neighborhood dumpsters, and spent the entire night digging through trash.

By dawn, my hands were slick with foul-smelling sludge, and grime had worked its way beneath my fingernails.

At first light, I finally found the culture dishes. They were buried beneath a pile of rotting banana peels.

When I stumbled back home, reeking of garbage, I ran into Mom on her way to the bathroom.

She immediately pressed a finger to her lips. "Shh. Your sister just fell asleep. Just put up with it tonight. Don't shower until tomorrow."

As she spoke, she walked over and unplugged the water heater. Then she wrinkled her nose. "And honestly, you smell awful. Go air yourself out before you come back inside."

I had no choice but to sit there through the night. Only after everyone else was awake did I finally get a chance to shower. I'd barely worked the shampoo into my hair when the hot water suddenly died.

A blast of icy water poured over me, making me shiver. Instinctively, I called out, "Mom? Dad? I think the power's out!"

I called a few more times. No one answered.

I grabbed the nearest towel and wrapped it around myself before stepping out of the bathroom. That was when I realized the electricity was out throughout the house.

Mom, Dad, Jake, and Emily were all gone.

I rinsed off as best I could with freezing water and headed outside. I ran into the building manager at the entrance.

She frowned when she noticed the shampoo still clinging to my hair. "The utility company scheduled a power outage for the whole neighborhood today—from eight this morning until five this afternoon. Didn't your family tell you?"

I forced a smile and mumbled some excuse. The moment I turned away, I had to blink back tears.

When I unlocked my phone, Emily had posted on Instagram. They were all at a karaoke lounge. Mom stood smiling with a microphone in her hand; Dad was opening a bottle of wine; Jake was picking songs; and Patrick sat beside Emily, peeling an orange for her.

The caption read, "Family day. My favorite people, all in one place."

I stared at the post for a long time. A hollow ache spread through my chest.

Then I remembered the winter I was thirteen. A fire broke out in the middle of the night. I woke up choking on smoke. By then, I could barely see through anything.

Somewhere in the haze, I heard my parents shouting.

"Hurry! Get Emily out first!"

By the time the firefighters pulled me from the house, I was barely alive.

Dad was holding Emily, wrapped safely in a blanket. Mom clutched Emily's wooden craft project against her chest.

As it turned out, the first time they went back inside, they rescued Emily. The second time, they went back for Emily's craft project.

Not once did they remember I was still in there.

When I finally made it outside, Mom burst into tears the moment she saw me. "What took you so long? Do you have any idea how worried we were?"

Dad walked over and slapped me across the face. "Why didn't you run? Were you trying to make us worry?"

The memory broke something inside me. I couldn't hold back the tears any longer.

Just then, my phone buzzed. It was a message from Mr. Carter. "Lauren, today's the day. If everything's set, be at Easton Airport by 5:00 pm sharp."

I swallowed the lump in my throat and replied, "I'll be there."

At that moment, a message from Mom popped up. "Lauren, Emily didn't mean to throw your things away. I'll apologize on her behalf. It's the last day of break. I want to buy you some clothes. Meet me at the mall in a bit."

A second later, she sent me a link to the mall's shopping app. There was a buy-one-get-one-free promotion.

That was when I understood. She didn't want to buy me clothes. She wanted to get something for free.

A bitter laugh escaped me.

Maybe that was for the best. I had nothing left to stay for. I left the family group chat and blocked every last one of them.

Finally, I got into a cab bound for the airport and didn't look back.