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Chapter 9
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I Was the Child They Never Loved Chapter 12
I hadn't envied Hannah in a long time. She had her place in their hearts, and I had my own life.The following spring, I traveled with Professor Langner to an academic conference in another city. After my presentation, a company executive approached me on the spot with an internship offer.Professor Langner smiled and said, "Claire, you've got a bright future ahead of you."I smiled back. "I know."And I meant it. Because every step of that path was one I had carved out myself. No one had held my hand, and no one had carried me, but when I fell, I got back up.When I was in pain, I went to the doctor. When I needed money, I went out and earned it. And when I was hurt, I stopped lying to myself and pretending it was fine.Over time, I still got the occasional message from home. Mom would ask if I was eating properly, Dad would forward weather alerts, and Drew would send me money on holidays.I didn't refuse all of it, but I didn't rush to respond the way I used to either. I had l
I Was the Child They Never Loved Chapter 11
I stared at the screen for a long time. I didn't hate Hannah. She was just the child who had been favored. But I couldn't go back to pretending nothing had happened either.I wrote back, "Let's talk about that when we've both had more time to grow up."The months that followed were so busy I barely had time to be sad. I received my research assistant stipend and was awarded the national scholarship. Professor Langner brought me into the core research group, and for the first time, my name appeared as second author on a published paper.The lab went out to dinner that night to celebrate. Faye raised her glass and said, "Congrats, Claire! Things are only going up from here."I smiled and nodded.In that moment, I wanted so badly to reach back through time and hold the version of me that used to be—the little girl who went to the school nurse alone, who stood in the living room holding a report card no one cared about, and who was still waiting for her mom right up until the anesthes
I Was the Child They Never Loved Chapter 10
Mom finally seemed to accept it, as if she had been forced to say it out loud. "Claire Bear, I wasn't thinking that day. I've always thought of you as the responsible one. Hannah had just finished her exams and was sick on top of it, and I just..."She couldn't finish, so I finished for her, "You just figured my money was there for the taking and that I wouldn't fight back."Mom's face went white. "That's not it. I just got used to it. I got used to you handling everything on your own, never crying, never making a fuss, and always being more mature than Hannah."I nodded. "So now that I'm not being mature anymore, you're not used to it. That makes sense."Dad frowned. "Claire, your mother already knows she was wrong. We came all this way because we genuinely want to make things right. You can't keep holding on to the past."The second those words left his mouth, I knew. Their regret was real, but so was their sense of entitlement. They wanted to make amends, but what they wanted e
I Was the Child They Never Loved Chapter 9
Below that was the record from my appendicitis surgery. The line for the family member's signature had my own name on it, because no family member had shown up that day. The doctor had eventually let me sign the risk disclosure myself.I still remembered that day. I was lying on the gurney, drenched in sweat from the pain, and the nurse asked me, "Where are your parents, sweetheart?"I told her, "They're on their way."But by the time the anesthesia went in, they still hadn't come. When I woke up, the first thing I saw was the ceiling. The second thing I saw was a 200-dollar transfer on my phone. Mom's message read, "Buy yourself something nutritious."I had made excuses for her at the time. She was busy with work, and the drive was long. Plus, someone had to stay home. Looking back on it now, I couldn't believe how naive I had been.Hannah texted again."Mom's crying, Dad hasn't said a word, and Drew locked himself in his room."I didn't reply.A long time later, Drew called.
I Was the Child They Never Loved Chapter 8
Faye also helped me change all my payment passwords."Claire, don't keep money at home from now on," she said. "Keep your safety net where only you can reach it."I nodded.That night, I sat on my dorm bed and looked at the balance on my new card. There wasn't much, but for the first time, I wasn't afraid.I had the school, I had my professors, and I had two working hands and a functioning brain. I wasn't going to starve, and I was never going to be trapped in that house again.On the third day, Mom finally called from a different number. I picked up.The moment the line connected, she started crying. "Claire, how could you be so heartless? You just left without a word. I haven't been able to sleep for days."I listened to her cry, and I felt nothing. If this had happened before, I would have panicked, felt guilty, and apologized on the spot.But now, all I replied was, "When are you giving me my money back?"The other end went quiet for a second. The crying stopped. When Mom
I Was the Child They Never Loved Chapter 7
"Hey, are you okay?" The woman asked.I opened my mouth, but my throat was so raw that nothing came out. She glanced at the college pin on my backpack, then at my flushed face. "Do you go to Alderton University?"I nodded, and she said right away, "Me too. Let me take you to the campus clinic."My first instinct was to say no. I had spent my whole life learning not to be a burden to anyone. But at that moment, I couldn't hold myself up anymore, so I whispered, "Thank you."It was the first time I realized that asking for help wasn't something to be ashamed of. What was shameful was needing it and being turned away, over and over, by the people closest to me.The on-call doctor at the campus clinic took my temperature, and it was 102.6°F. He frowned and asked, "It's already this high, and you're only coming in now?"I was quiet for a moment. "I was at home before."He looked at me but didn't push it. He prescribed me medication and treated the burn on my hand. "Keep this dry fo
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