Chapter 1

Upon seeing that Mom had left me with nothing to say, Dominic Ingram, my childhood friend, quickly stepped in to mediate the situation. "Jolene's surgery is coming up soon. She won't be able to dance anymore once she gets on that operating table, Mrs. Lester."

Mom came back to her senses and murmured, "I have to make things right for Jolene…"

Jolene Lester, my older twin sister, wiped away her tears and held her dance shoes close as though she couldn't bear to part with them.

Dad let out a sigh and crushed his cigarette underfoot. "I'll take you to Briarlune Dance Academy and let you have a look around. It can be considered a way of fulfilling your dream, Jolene."

Jolene's eyes brightened for a moment before she shook her head. "What's the point? I need to save Natalie. I'll never get another shot at dancing professionally, since the academy won't wait for me through my recovery…"

In that instant, the entire family fell silent once again.

I fidgeted with my fingers and finally mustered the courage to speak up. "You can take Jolene to the academy… I don't need the transplant, Dad…"

Mom cried out loud as she pounded her chest in frustration. "Why are you making things difficult for us? How could we possibly give up on you now? Especially since we've sacrificed so much for you! Why can't you be a bit more sensible, Natalie?"

She saw the ruined cake on the floor and, already furious, stomped on it until it was completely crushed. "You only care about the cake even though the whole family has been saving every penny for your treatment, Natalie!"

I wanted to say something, but I couldn't bring myself to speak. It was my birthday, and I hadn't had a cake in five years.

"Jolene didn't even get to have cake today!" Mom then turned to Jolene and held her hand, wiping away her tears. "You'll be having the surgery soon, so I'll take you out for a good meal, Jolene."

"Exactly!" Dad grabbed his car keys and said, "We've finally saved enough for the surgery, so the money I made delivering food today can go toward spoiling my darling daughter!"

I nervously tugged at my shirt and started to follow them, but Dominic subtly stepped in my way. "Jolene lost her chance at Briarlune Dance Academy because of you, so don't follow along and make things worse, Natalie."

I instantly froze, unable to bring myself to take a single step forward no matter how hard I tried.

Mom and Dad walked on either side of Jolene, holding her hands and finding ways to cheer her up. Jolene eventually smiled through her tears.

Dominic hurried after them, making an exaggerated gesture while exclaiming, "We'll get Jolene the biggest cake we can find!"

It had been a long time since anyone in the family had laughed, all because of me. It was nice seeing them laugh again.

I wiped away my tears and went to my room to get my ID. I wouldn't be able to undergo the surgery without it. I picked it up and cut it into pieces, silently telling myself, "You're finally free, Jolene. I won't become anyone's burden anymore."