My Mother's Love Is a Lottery I Always Lose
Ever since my mom gave birth to her second child, everything in the household is tied to drawing lots.
Everyone has to draw lots in order to decide whose favorite food will be served for each meal. We have to draw lots to see who among us gets a hug from our parents.
Every time, I end up drawing the short end of the stick, so everyone automatically assumes that my younger sister, Anabelle Madden, gets the better lot. She easily reaps my parents' love without having to do anything at all.
Whenever I feel like crying because of the injustice, Mom will scold me instantly.
"I bought the lottery box because I was worried that you might feel upset about this. I'm doing this just to be fair to both of you.
"If you want something, you have to be the one deciding who gets what. Your father and I won't interfere with your decision at all. Since you can't draw the better lot, that just means you have bad luck."
Hence, I keep practicing my lot-drawing skills every day, hoping that I can eventually draw the better lot in order to obtain my parents' love.
But for ten years, I never get to draw the better lot. Not even once.
On my birthday, Anabelle wants to go to the amusement park, so Mom tells us to draw lots once again.
I secretly glue two short lots together before giving it to Mom in an attempt to get her to stay with me.
Instead, she slaps me and berates me for being a disobedient child who cheats in lot-drawing. Then, she leaves the house with Anabelle.
When I fall to the floor, I feel the short sticks piercing through my neck.