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Home / Emotional Realism Short Story / Principal Mom Killed Me to Avoid Favoritism / Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

All Chapters of Principal Mom Killed Me to Avoid Favoritism: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

12 Chapters

Chapter 1

I shook all over, my voice breaking. "Mom, I really don't feel good… I can't breathe…"The pollen had my throat in a chokehold, like a pair of invisible hands were squeezing it tight. My chest felt so heavy it was about to explode.Mom looked impatient. "All I asked was for you to pick a flower to be given to Rachel, and you're acting like it's the end of the world. You're just jealous she's top of the class, aren't you?"If you can't measure up to her, the least you can do is be nice to her, even if it's just on the surface. You won't even do that? You're such a disgrace!"As she spoke, she reached out and shoved me hard, forcing me deeper into the sea of flowers. "I don't expect you to be an exemplary student, but you can't even get along with your classmates? How did I end up with such a selfish daughter?"I stumbled and fell into the flowers. Pollen swirled up all around me, and I fumbled frantically for the allergy meds in my pocket. But the bottle was empty—I'd already finis

Chapter 2

My soul slowly drifted out of my body, hovering blankly in midair.Did I… just die?So death was this light. I didn't feel the slightest trace of pain.Right then, the top student in our grade, Rachel White, carefully pushed through the crowd and hurried over to Mom, clutching her own medicine box in her hand."Ms. Lodge, we all brought our meds. I don't need mine, so I can give this to Penelope. She seems like she—"Before she could finish, Mom cut her off, her voice cold."Don't indulge her! She's obviously faking it. Ever since she was little, she would start whining about her allergies the moment she felt a bit off—it's just an excuse to get out of chores and things. I saw through her act years ago!"Rachel didn't want to give up so easily. She stepped a little closer. "But Penelope isn't moving at all, and she's so pale. What if something really has happened to her?"Mom immediately threw an arm out to block her."Don't go over there! There's pollen everywhere. What if yo

Chapter 3

I watched Mom settle each student in, one after another. Then, she thoughtfully handed Rachel a brand-new lunchbox, filled with a hot meal she'd gotten up early to cook herself."Here, eat up. I know things are tight at home, and you can't usually afford good food at school. I made this especially for you. Make sure you take care of your health. Being able to study well is more important than anything."Rachel looked down the hill with a naive look on her face and asked softly, "Is Penelope not eating?"Mom gave a cold snort. She didn't even spare a glance in my direction. "She always acts like she's so delicate and allergic to everything, doesn't she? Even if I gave it to her, she doesn't deserve a hot meal like this. Let her go hungry a few times and she'll finally learn her place."I lowered my head and looked at my worn-out backpack by my feet. Stuffed inside it was the cheapest cold boxed meal I'd bought that morning from the school cafeteria.For as long as I could remember,

Chapter 4

Mom immediately turned around and left me behind.It turned out that Rachel had accidentally fallen and hurt her leg. Mom's face blanched with panic when she saw the thin line of blood on Rachel's knee.Without another word, she crouched down and let Rachel climb onto her back, her voice full of alarm. "Don't be scared. I'll carry you to the infirmary. We can't let this scar. What if it affects your classes?"Rachel squirmed a little on her back. "But Penelope's still passed out down there. Are we just going to leave her?"Mom didn't so much as falter."Don't worry about her right now. She's always putting on an act, anyway. She won't die. You're hurt worse than she is. Worry about yourself first."She hurried down the hill with Rachel on her back. After a few quick strides, she seemed to suddenly remember something and turned back to call out to my deskmate, Stephanie Barker."Go keep an eye on Penelope. Shake her awake and have her rejoin the group. Don't let her linger here a

Chapter 5

Mom watched the students get picked up one by one, then made sure Rachel was settled and reminded her to get plenty of rest.By the time she was done with everything, it was already close to 11:00 pm. She dragged her tired body home.My backpack wasn't by the entryway, but she didn't think anything of it. She just assumed I had come back early and was sulking in my room.She stood in front of my tightly shut bedroom door and raised her voice, calling out, "Penelope, how long are you going to give me attitude over something so trivial?"When there was no response from inside, Mom thought I was just deliberately ignoring her. She shook her head helplessly and lowered her voice. "Honestly, when is she ever going to grow up? She's so insensible and always makes me worry."She didn't knock, nor did she ask any more questions. She just turned around and went back to her own room.The next morning, Mom got up, washed up, and got ready for work like she always did. She didn't think about

Chapter 6

Mom froze like she'd been pinned down with needles when she heard the police officer's words, but the panic on her face only lasted a second before it was replaced by calm.She turned sharply to Ms. Bronson, her voice fast and firm, without the slightest hesitation. "Quick, gather all the students right now. Line them up in front of the main building and do a headcount. I want every single one of them there. We can't leave anyone out! I'll call all the parents right now to confirm that their kids are safe."Ms. Bronson stood beside her, hesitation written all over her face. After a long moment of deliberation, she finally spoke, clear worry in her voice. "But Ms. Lodge… There's still no news on Penelope. She didn't come to school today, and she didn't turn in her homework. Could the student that the officer mentioned be—""What are you getting at?" Mom cut Ms. Bronson off.She didn't even look up as she continued contacting parents, her tone edged with impatience. "Penelope must be

Chapter 7

"What are you talking about?" Mom frowned, sounding skeptical. "It must've been a student from another school wearing a uniform that just looks like ours. You got it wrong. All of our students are right here. Not a single one is missing. This has nothing to do with our school.""How could we possibly get the uniform wrong?" The police officer looked resigned, but he forced himself to be patient as he explained, "We double-checked the school badge and style of the uniform. It's definitely from your school. And a citizen picked up the student's belongings at the scene. You can't get that wrong, can you?""I'd like to see what exactly is this thing that supposedly proves she's from our school," Mom said, still stubborn and even a little defiant.Seeing that she refused to believe him no matter what, the police officer lost his patience and stopped trying to explain. He took a sealed evidence bag from his briefcase and held it out to Mom."This was found at the scene by the passerby. I

Chapter 8

Mom's hands shook even harder now. All color had drained from her face, and she kept muttering about how this was impossible. Her eyes were hollow and dazed.All of a sudden, she snapped her head up, and like she had just grabbed hold of one last, desperate lifeline.Ignoring Ms. Bronson and the police officer, she stumbled into my classroom and headed straight for Stephanie.Mom seized her arm in a death grip, her voice hoarse and frantic as she hissed, "Get over here! Didn't you say Penelope just stormed off in anger? Didn't you say you tried to talk her down forever, but she wouldn't listen and blew up at you? Then tell me how her keychain ended up in the botanical garden. How did she end up getting hurt?"Stephanie flinched from the pain of Mom's grip. She was so terrified that tears spilled out instantly, and her fingers twisted tightly in the hem of her shirt."Ms. Lodge, I… I don't know! I swear I don't know anything! At the time, I just… I just kicked her once, and she did

Chapter 9

More teachers and students started gathering around. Their gazes were like needles that pierced Mom."So the student who died was Ms. Lodge's daughter?""How could this happen? Ms. Lodge didn't even know her daughter was missing all night?""I heard that she didn't care at all when her daughter fainted from an allergic reaction on yesterday's field trip. She only paid attention to Rachel White…"The murmurs grew louder and louder, but Mom didn't seem to hear any of it. She no longer cared about their stares or their gossip. Her whole world had descended into utter chaos.She staggered back a few steps, clutching her head with both hands. She sounded weak and broken as she mumbled, "No… No, it's not like that. It's not that I didn't care about her. I just thought she was throwing a tantrum. I thought she would come home…"She fainted, and her forehead was bleeding? How did I not know… How could I not have known? That keychain is hers. She's the one who died… It was my Penelope…"

Chapter 10

Mom reached out with a trembling hand, her fingertips stopping short just before my cheek. It was as if I were made of glass, as if the slightest touch would shatter the last fragile bit of hope she had left."Penelope…" Her voice came out so hoarse it was barely audible.Tears spilled down her ashen cheeks like a broken string of pearls, dropping onto my clothes."I'm here now… Please get up, okay? I know I messed up. I shouldn't have ignored you. I shouldn't have said you were faking it. I never should've left you here all alone…"She finally mustered the courage to go through with it and gently cupped my cheek. All she felt was cold. My skin was utterly devoid of warmth.In that instant, she shuddered violently. She couldn't hold back her grief anymore and pulled me into her arms, pressing me to her chest."Penelope, I'm sorry… I'm so, so sorry…"Mom buried her face in the crook of my neck, crying her heart out, her voice filled with regret and despair. "I was wrong. It's all

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