The Daughter They Never Loved

Two days after I was born, my mother gave me away.

My parents already had a daughter. In our family, I was the unnecessary one.

When I was seven, they came to bring me home from my aunt’s house.

I sat in the car, nervously clutching my clothes.

I wondered if Mom would give me a warm hug when she saw me for the first time,

or maybe even a kiss.

But the tender scene I imagined never happened.

Mom was holding my baby brother. She swept me a scornful glance.

“If I hadn’t gotten sick giving birth to you, my body wouldn’t be in this condition.”