Chapter 2

"Alright, come on, let's get to work! First, let's put up the New Year's banners!"

Mr. Peterson's voice pulled me back to reality.

I looked up at him, incredulous. "I'm allowed to put up the banners?"

He frowned, as if he wanted to roll his eyes, but held back.

"What's 'allowed' got to do with it? Just get it done quickly so we can eat."

I took the new banners. The red paper smelled of fresh ink, but holding them, it felt unreal.

At home, setting up for the holidays – putting up decorations, hanging lanterns – it all had rules. My brother, being the boy, was always the one allowed to do it. My sister, with her good grades and pretty face, was deemed worthy of that honor.

I carefully put up the banners. As soon as I finished, a hand pulled me inside.

The dining table was laden with steaming dumplings, and a group of people were huddled together, yet they'd left a space for me.

I froze.

During holidays growing up, I was always stuck in the kitchen helping out with a group of relatives, waiting for everyone else to finish eating before it was our turn.

Most times, I wasn't even allowed to sit at the main table.

"Eat, what are you staring at?" Maria put a dumpling in my bowl.

Their warmth enveloped me, and as I ate the dumplings, I slowly joined in their conversation.

Outside, the kids were setting off sparklers, crackling brightly.

Maria pulled out two boxes of small sparklers from a cabinet and handed them to me.

"Go play."

I was a little surprised. "I don't need to work?"

"It's New Year's, we don't clean today. We'll do it tomorrow morning. Go have fun today," Maria said, smiling as she nudged me.

Seeing their insistence, I stepped outside.

Watching the kids, much younger than me, freely running around in the night, I couldn't help but smile.

Truth be told, I didn't like New Year's.

I was never the "golden child" everyone talked about, and in those bustling gatherings, even quietly breathing in a corner felt wrong.

But I found that celebrating the holidays away from home for the first time actually felt... freer.

Just then, my phone vibrated in my pocket.

I quickly checked it. It was a message from the family SnapChat group.

My family had posted a group photo.

I held my phone for a long time, waiting for Mom and Dad to ask where I was.

I let out a long breath, unsure if it was disappointment or a strange sense of relief.

I tapped on the photo. Everyone was gathered around Grandma and Grandpa, with Daniel and Victoria standing on either side, smiling brightly.

Without me, the picture seemed even more harmonious.

Suddenly, I felt a warmth on my back. A thick coat was draped over my shoulders.

I turned around. It was Maria.

She looked from my phone screen to my face.

"Sweetie, are you thinking about home?"