The Replacement Daughter

As the 'candies' dissolved in my mouth, the bitter taste spread across my tongue. I doubled over, gagging as acid and saliva stained my mouth.These were the same ones Mom had hidden in the back of her closet three years ago. Back then, she would sit on the edge of my bed late at night, her eyes empty and hollow as she whispered, "Why are you still alive?"Now, I was finally fulfilling the obsession she had clung to all those years.I was wearing a boy's school uniform, the collar frayed and worn. It used to be Beau Campbell's, but it had stopped fitting me a long time ago. Even so, Mom insisted I keep wearing it because it made me look more like Beau.I could hear her laughter drifting from the living room, soft and tender in a way I had never heard before. She was rubbing her belly and talking to Dad."The doctor said it's definitely a boy this time. Look how smooth this pregnancy is going," she cooed, her voice sickeningly sweet. "Soon I won't have to look at that disgusting li

Mom had promised to buy the crib for Beau's birthday, but he never lived to see that day. The crib was finally here, and its little owner was about to return in another form.Mom suddenly looked up as if sensing something and glanced in my direction. I quickly floated up to the ceiling as her eyes swept across the empty living room. She frowned briefly before lowering her head to rock the crib again.She whispered, "Beau, I'm waiting for you to come back. I'll never let you leave again."I looked at her profile and felt nothing. I did not feel sad at all. She was finally getting Beau back, and I, the replacement, could disappear for good. This way, everyone could be happy.On the third morning, someone pounded on the door downstairs so hard as if they wanted to break it down.I floated to the living room and watched Mom irritably open the door to find Sofea standing there."Mrs. Campbell," Sofea said, her expression serious. "Lily hasn't been to school for three days, and no one'

The hospital corridor stretched endlessly, and the harsh fluorescent lights cast my parents' haggard figures, making everything feel unbearably bleak.I floated in midair, watching Dad cradle my body and cry like a child. He stroked my cheek over and over, calling my name. "I'm so sorry, Lily. I should never have stayed silent. I should never have let you suffer so much."Mom collapsed to her knees and crawled over to hug my legs, her tears dripping onto my clothes. "Lily, please forgive me... I didn't mean it! I just missed Beau so much. Come back! I'll buy you dresses and let you grow your hair long. You can do whatever you want, and I'll never force you again."I watched them fall apart, yet there was not a shred of satisfaction in me–only an overwhelming sadness.If only they had treated me like this.That night, my parents returned home. Nothing had changed in the house, and it was still filled with traces of Beau everywhere. His photo hung on the living room wall, his toys l

That night, I floated beside Mom's hospital bed. As I stared at her haggard appearance, I felt a strange ache in my heart.I thought to myself, "Mom, I don't blame you anymore. I know you just loved Beau so much; it's just that the way you loved him ended up hurting me. If there's another life, I don't want to be your daughter again."Mom's emotions remained unstable, and the doctor said she needed to stay for observation so the stress would not affect the baby.I floated around the hospital room, watching her stroke her belly as tears fell onto the blanket. She mumbled, "Beau, Lily's gone. I'm so sorry."Dad sat by the bed, handing Mom a peeled apple. "From now on, we'll take good care of Beau and visit Lily often. We'll make up for everything we owe her."Mom took the apple and bit into it, tears streaming down again. "I always thought she was just a replacement, but now that she's gone, I realize she was her own person... My precious Lily, not anyone's shadow."She stared out