When Rain Fell Unseen
My sister had struggled with depression since childhood. The doctor warned that she could not tolerate any kind of stimulation.
As a result, my entire life fell silent.
To avoid upsetting her, I never dared to laugh at home. I never dared to cry. When I got hurt, I did not even have the right to say it hurt.
My parents would hug me with apologetic expressions and say, "You're the good one. Your sister's illness requires the whole family to work together. You're healthy. You're strong. Let her have more, okay?"
One day, I accidentally knocked over a cup. The crash sounded enormous in the quiet room, and my sister's emotions shattered at once.
My father struck me for the first time. He roared, "Can't you be careful? Do you have to push her until she dies before you're satisfied?"
He shoved me to the floor. The back of my head slammed against the corner of the table, and blood poured out.
But my whole family rushed to my screaming sister. No one even glanced at me.
I lay on the cold floor as my vision blurred and my consciousness began to fade.
To them, my sister's feelings were the only emergency. My small injury could wait.
They did not know that bleeding inside the skull does not wait.