Refused To Bullied

My eyes focused on Ashley, whose body flinched under my fierce expression. Within the flashes, she began sobbing harder and acted pitifully, defending her actions.

“Sister! How could you be so cruel to me? I was just checking if it was in good condition or not for you.”

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“If your words were true. So, why did you not return the moment I told you to remove it?” I interjected, and her mouth pressed tightly.

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I knew she wanted that jewellery for a long time and wished my parents would let her have it, but I could never let it go.

That necklace belonged to my late grandmother. She specifically left this jewellery in my name as per her last will.

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“Mia! She is your younger sister! Can’t you just give up a single piece of jewellery for her?”

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My mother always does this kind of trick to me. Give up, then fight with Ashley. You can always have others let your younger sister have this. Like, my choice and words don't matter.

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“Mom, don’t yell at Sister. She’s just upset right now. Let me apologise to her. I don’t want a fight.” Ashley blinked her angel eyes, and everyone stared at her like the most injured person in the room.

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“Oh, my baby! Don’t cry. You are too kind for her.” My mother hugged her and patted her back, like she was calming a small kid, while my brother, who was fuming with rage, pointed his finger at me.

“You dare to bully Ashley in front of us. Now, I am not letting you go. Apologise now or take the punishment.”

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A sharp, mocking laugh escaped my lips.

“Apologise after my deathbed and take the necklace.”

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Everyone gasped, but I maintained my composure, masking my fear with a forced arrogance.

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“It’s enough!” Dad’s body shook in disbelief.

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“Dad, Mom, did you just hear her arrogant talk?” Paul’s voice turned solemn.

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My parents were fuming with the same rage as him and ready to bash me.

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“Mia, we gave you enough chances to rectify yourself. But you not only disappointed your sister but all of us. Now, only punishment can do the work for you.” My mother declared dryly, and everyone’s expressions immediately filled with satisfaction.

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Like they were waiting for it.

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“From now on, you are not allowed to leave your room until you apologise to Ashley and learn what you did wrong!” As she announced that, Paul immediately held my arm and dragged me to my bedroom. “Now, this is what you deserved.”

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“No! Let me go! You can’t just lock me up!”

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“Paul! Leave my hand right now! I am not a kid!”

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“You all can’t do this to me!”

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I shouted at them while being forced to pull my arm, but they ignored it as their disgusted eyes watched me when Paul used his man strength to drag me out and pushed me into my tiny room with a hard floor.

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I fell hard on the floor and scratched my hands and knees, but my parents gave me the cold shoulder while Paul sneered, “You deserve this,” and shut the door in my face harder. But all I noticed was Ashley and her triumphant smile, with still-pure tears in her eyes, deceiving everyone.

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The moment I caught that, my mouth let out a soft, harsh chuckle, knowing the absolute mockery on that hidden face.

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For the last three days, I stayed in my bedroom, like a deceased person, without moving, without eating, and no one raised a concern over it. My family casually went about their daily routine, having meals together and sharing talk before getting busy with their schedule.

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While I was slowly crushing inside, my body began to weaken as I ate my last meal on my birthday afternoon, before the evening turned into a disaster.

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Whenever my stomach rumbled with hunger, I curled one side with knees drawn up to my chest in a fetal position. Though endurance came with its own limit, I could feel myself losing it gradually.

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I drank the last drop of water from my bottle, which I always kept next to me, when suddenly a small knock sounded at my door after the long silence, and my mother's voice reached me.

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“Mia.”

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Hearing my mother, all my anger vanished, turning into intense emotions, and my eyes pooled with tears, with the raw hope that she was here to check on me.

Finally, she came to see her non-existent daughter, and I used all my remaining strength to walk towards the door.

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“Mom…” I immediately responded with a glimmer of yearning, which soon turned into a new, worse dismay.

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​“Mia, it’s already been three days. I hope you learned your manners by now, so quit being stubborn and apologise to Ashley. I will let you out immediately.”

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My mother’s shrill voice fell word by word right into my ears, crushing every last hope in me, thinking she was here for me, while Ashley’s venomous honey voice rang right after that, “Mom! Sister will learn one day. Let her go just this time.”

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Her words made my pain worse as I clenched my belly with unbearable pain. The hunger, the anger and this hurt ultimately made me lose my mind when suddenly my head felt heavy, and I was near the edge, collapsing, and then my mother’s sombre voice came again, with more abhorrence, “Ashley, you don’t need to speak for her. We all know how arrogant that child is! For a simple necklace, threatening your family is not a good sign!”

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I choked in tears and pressed my palms right over my mouth.

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“Mia, I know you can listen to me. Now, come out and apologise.” She shouted and banged on the door harshly.

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