THE UNWANTED DAUGHTER

My parents were looking at the pictures that had been taken on the day of my sister’s wedding with noticeable joy on their faces. The two of them confessed that my sister’s marriage was the right decision that they’d made for her, believing she couldn’t have gotten anybody better than Noah Grayson, something that I chose to differ on.

“From the day I had gotten to know Noah, I knew he needed to get married to our daughter,” revealed my mother, immersed in bluffing how she made the right decision by bringing them together. “I have never seen Anne look so happy before.”

Nodding, my father kept down the newspaper he had been reading and declared, “Now all that’s left to do is to ensure our younger daughter finds conjugal happiness too.”

“Since she is a stubborn one, I know it will not be an easy task,” declared my mother, grabbing her head. “Other than that, if people were to find out about her disappearance at her own sister’s wedding, nobody would want to marry her.”

“I can’t believe she can be this irresponsible,” said Mister Jennings, agreeing with everything his wife suggested. “Since she has always cared about all her relationships, it is baffling to see her go on days without texting us.”

“It is because I came home,” I announced, hoping to be received with warm smiles and comforting hugs.

Instead, my mother rested her hands over her waist before demanding to know my reasons for disappearing on the night of my sister’s wedding, "Where did you run off to? Where have you been staying since then?"

"I needed to get away to breathe a little. It was just all too much," I responded, hoping to receive my parents' sympathies for my declining mental health.

Unfortunately, there was only the look of disappointment. I could tell that they were not happy to have me back. Since I lacked both the strength and will to fight them for their lack of interest and care for me, I hurried towards the stairs to get to my room without saying anything anymore. 

"Join us for dinner tomorrow," commanded my mother, unbothered by the fact that I might have a different opinion on the same. "It is your older sister's first visit since her wedding. I want everything to be perfect."

"Then, that's more of a reason why you shouldn't ask me to join you guys for the dinner," I said, recognizing how I would only prove to be a troubling element in the peaceful gathering with their favourite daughter. 

"Noah might figure out that we're not on good terms with you if you wouldn't be there," argued my father, emphasising the need to maintain a good image in front of the man who they believed would get them more business and abundance. 

"He wouldn't care about my absence, as he would be there to meet you," I walked away, showing no regard for their wish just as they had always done to me. "Have a good time convincing my brother-in-law that you guys genuinely want to build a good relationship with him."

"This is no way to talk to your parents!" croaked my mother, displeased with my behaviour.