The Ones I Left Behind のすべてのチャプター: チャプター 1 - チャプター 8

Phoebe looked at Tristan's phone, and then at Eleanor's. She hesitated before speaking. "Mom, Tristan, I want to do both."Eleanor and Tristan exchanged a glance and promptly agreed in unison. "Then, we'll do both."Vincent smiled and gently reminded everyone to pack their things.For a moment there, I felt like I was transported back to my childhood days.My parents would take Tristan and Phoebe to amusement parks and zoos whenever it was vacation season. Meanwhile, I was always left at home."You need to focus on your studies and set a good example for Phoebe."That was what they always said.I once asked Eleanor why Tristan didn't have to set an example.She'd replied, "Tristan's a boy. He needs to get out there and see the world."Then, I asked why Phoebe couldn't be the one to stay home and study.Eleanor's expression immediately darkened as she hissed, "What's with all the questions? Why are you never satisfied? I'm telling you to study because it's for your own good. Y

When we left the aquarium, Eleanor stopped me. "Come here. Let's take a family picture."I obediently went over and watched her take a selfie stick out of her bag.So, she didn't need someone to take the picture. She just didn't want me in it with them.She was only taking this family picture to keep my grandmother from nagging her.How pathetic. I had to depend on my grandmother's constant defense to finally get the family picture I'd dreamed of.My eyes grew red before I knew it.Eleanor posed for the camera, but she scowled at me the moment she noticed my teary eyes. "Why are you crying over a picture? Have you considered what people will think of me if I post this? Have I been abusing you? Are you trying to make your own mother look abusive?"Then, she shoved me aside. "Fine. Go crouch over there and keep your head down. That's right. Just make sure a part of you is in the frame."Once the picture was taken, she seemed to think her job was done."I'm taking Phoebe to the s

After the relatives left, Eleanor picked up her phone and rang me up.It was the first time she'd called me since I started college.The phone rang for a long time before the ringing stopped. Then, it started again.I knew I had to face the music eventually, so I let out a weary sigh and answered."Gwyneth, look at you, getting all high and mighty now that you're all grown up, huh? You're going abroad without telling us? And where are you going, missy? I raised you all these years, and you're just going to up and leave? Are you abandoning this family?"Her barrage of questions left me struggling to breathe.In the past year, she hadn't once asked if I had enough money, if I was eating well, or if the people around me treated me well.Yet, the first time she'd deigned to contact me, all she wanted to do was interrogate me about whether I still wanted anything to do with this family.The gall. After all, didn't they abandon me first? I could hear the fear in her voice. She was

The principal called me into the conference room and left us alone.My parents' eyes reddened the moment they saw me, but I knew it wasn't out of love.Eleanor shot to her feet."Gwyneth, you've been gone for two years, and you haven't contacted us even once. You wouldn't have bothered calling us if we hadn't noticed that you'd returned to the country, right?"Vincent looked at me and raised a hand, but said nothing. However, his face was dripping with bitter resentment.Unfortunately for them, I was long past caring about their opinions of me.So, I pulled out a chair and made myself comfortable."I didn't earn a spot as an exchange student until my sophomore year, thanks to my grades. Did either of you contact me once during my entire freshman year? So, what's all this? "Ah, I see what's really happening here. Now that you think I've made something of myself and am now a tool that you use to put on airs, you've suddenly remembered that you have another daughter?"Eleanor re