I accidentally burned the pet dog that my parents cherish. So I was forced to drink boiling water by them.

My throat was severely burned, but my dad turned a blind eye.

My mom condoned my dad's behavior just because they both thought I was a burden.

Not only did they not send me to the hospital, but they also dragged me to the trash can to fend for myself.

Later, a kind neighbor passing by sent me to the hospital. But I was on a razor's edge.

The doctor asked to call my parents, but it took thirty calls before they finally answered.

The doctor told my parents that I was dying and needed them to sign.

"Then let him die! We're taking Nick to see a doctor; we don't have time to deal with this useless person."

Upon hearing this, I couldn't catch my breath and died on the spot.

But later, why were they crying so miserably in front of my grave?

——

The taste in my throat was unusually fishy and sweet, not because I ate candy.

It was because I was forced to drink a cup of boiling water. And now my throat was full of blisters.

I blinked my eyes and looked at the doctor with a worried face.

I really wanted to speak, but my throat hurt too much.

The boiling water even burned my stomach, as if it was pierced.

I was in so much pain all over my body that I could hardly speak.

The nurse comforted me and said my parents would be here soon.

But only I knew that they wouldn't come.

I burned their baby; they would never forgive me.

But I was so careful. How could it get burned?

With their gaze fixed on me, my breathing gradually evened out and stopped.

My soul didn't leave, probably because my resentment was too much.

It was floating in the air.

Looking at the emaciated corpse, I thought maybe it was because I was too thin that my parents didn't like me.

If I eat a little more, I will be as chubby as Nick.

Maybe they would like me a little more.

My mom hated me because I looked like my dad.

My dad hated me because I was born from my mother.

But what did I do wrong?

Could I decide my own life?

With regret and incomprehension, I drifted to my parents.

They held Nick in their arms, and the atmosphere was so joyful.

It made me, as a bystander, look ridiculous and embarrassed.

I held back my tears and leaned on my mother's shoulder as if I could feel the warmth of my mother.

I walked to my father's side again and rubbed my hand on his rough palm.

These were all things I had longed for but never received.

It seemed that there were benefits even in death.

But when Nick cried in fear of the injection during treatment, they mentioned me.

"It's all Carroll's fault. She can't even carry a glass of water properly."

"Nick has been with us for three years, but this is the first time I've heard it cry so miserably. It must be in pain."

But Mom and Dad, I'm in pain too.

Why won't you come and see me, pity me?

But then, Dad's stern voice appeared again.

His voice was so cold.

But he was not like this at all when he talked to Nick.

"That liar just said that Carroll is going to die. Good, I hope he dies!"

"He's such a useless person. He can't even do a small thing properly. How can he integrate into society in the future?"

It seemed that whenever I was mentioned, he was really angry.

But mom and dad, I'm already dead.

You useless person, I won't bother you anymore.

Because I'm already dead.

Will you be even a little bit happy for me?

Nick's medical expenses were 15,000 dollars.

I counted on my fingers.

Fifteen thousand dollars.

In the New year, Dad gave me 50 dollars, mom gave me 50 dollars.

They always said I wasted money and didn't give me any money.

Even when I went to school, they didn't pay for my meals.

So I often couldn't eat enough and had to pick up leftovers from my classmates.

When my parents found out about this, they beat me up.

The pain from the hanger hitting my leg bone still lingers. My neighbor Julia took me to the hospital when my shin bone was fractured.

So you think I'm just wasting money, but you can be so generous to Nick.

A deep sense of powerlessness overwhelmed me. I felt pathetic and ridiculous.

I followed them and went to that Foreign restaurant.

At the entrance, they were stopped.

"Pets are not allowed inside!"

A command made them furious.

"Nick is not a pet, he is my treasure, my child, my good son!"

"Do you know how to speak? If you don't, then shut up!"

I stood still, listening to my parents speaking for Nick.

Once, my classmates falsely accused me of stealing their things. I told my parents that I didn't steal anything.

They turned a blind eye and a deaf ear to it.

I almost wanted to kneel down and beg them to believe me.

But they remained indifferent.

In silence, I looked at the classmate who falsely accused me, hiding behind my parents, feeling lost for a long time.

It turned out that parents could also be a child's refuge.

But why was my mother like this?

They never believed me, let alone favored me.

I wouldn't speak up for myself just because someone falsely accused me.

But Nick enjoyed all their favoritism.

At this moment, I feel a little jealous of Nick.

In the end, they entered.

They knew that Nick didn't like to eat broccoli, so they always remembered.

They would praise it after Nick finished the dish.

"Nick is great, it can eat vegetables."

Mom and Dad were always generous with their praise for Nick.

But in my ten years, they had never praised me.

Instead, a setback in my grades would provoke a beating from them.

They knew that Nick loved to eat beef, so they always ordered it for Nick.

But they always forced me to eat cilantro, even though they didn't remember that I was allergic to seafood.

That time, I took advantage of Nick and ate a shrimp.

But my throat had a severe allergic reaction and became swollen and red.

But at this moment, they didn't show any sympathy.

Instead, they shifted the blame to each other.

Dad said, "Didn't the doctor mention Carroll's allergens when he was born? Why don't you remember?"

My mom, on the other hand, responded with cold words and impatience.

"It's been so long, how could I remember so clearly? Besides, do I owe him anything? Who told him to have such a craving for it?"

The past was vivid, but now it just seemed embarrassing and ridiculous.

It made me insignificant when looking at their love and care for Nick.

Mom was a doctor, her hands were precious.

But now, she patiently peeled plate after plate of shrimp for Nick.

Dad was a teacher, he always said that time is precious and not waste time trying to please them.

But now, he was cutting steak for Nick.

They didn't like to eat beef, but they were willing to waste this time for Nick.

Seeing this scene, my tears flow like a broken dam.

It turned out that seeing their lack of love for me still hurt my heart.

Nick and I were like opposite sides.

He and my parents were inside, while I was always excluded.

After returning home, they coincidentally called out my name.

"Carroll, come over and bring slippers for Carroll, then take Carroll to wash his feet!"

It was the same commanding tone again.

I still instinctively walked towards Carroll when I heard it.

But my hand passed through Carroll's body.

He barked at me twice, waking me up from the dream.

I am already dead.

I don't need to do these things anymore.

Mom, who was attracted by Nick's voice, scolded me first, then gently took off Nick's shoes.

"I haven't seen him all day. If I had known he was such a waste, I wouldn't have given birth to him!"

At this time, Dad chimed in.

"I told you a long time ago. Carroll is just a waste. If it wasn't for him, Nick wouldn't have suffered so much."

"Do you know how heartbroken I was when I saw Nick convulsing in pain? I wish Carroll would die!"

After saying that, he held Nick in his arms, feeling heartbroken.

It wasn't until he saw Nick that he smiled.

As if all the unpleasantness had vanished into thin air.

"My good Nick, you were so brave getting the shot today. I will get you a bone to eat, okay?"

At this time, Mom also looked up, with a smiling face.

She touched Nick's head and said gently, "I will clear out that person's bedroom for you to watch cartoons, okay? If you bark, I will act immediately."

They never spoke to me so gently.

As if I were a virus, everyone hates me.

My clothes and books were thrown out by my mom.

Things were piled up at the door, and my mom called the scrap collector, asking him to come and take them away.

I looked at the empty bedroom and my heart trembled.

In this home, I didn't even have a place to stay.

Just then, the neighbor Julia knocked on the door.

My mom had never had a good impression of the neighbor Julia.

Just because when I was three years old, they left me on the roadside to be kidnapped by human traffickers.

It was my neighbor Julia who brought me back.

At that time, they were arrogant and scolded Julia.

"If you bring him back, then he's yours."

"From now on, I have nothing to do with him!"

Julia, who was unable to take care of me and afraid that they would really abandon me, called the police directly.

It was also during that time that they had conflicts.

"Why are you here? That useless person is not at home. I don't know where he went."

Julia's eyes were swollen as if she had been crying for a long time.

Someone would be sad for my death.

That's enough.

"Why are you crying? Did we bully you? If you don't leave, we will call the police!"

But the neighbor Julia gave mom a slap.

The voice echoed loudly in the empty space.

"Do you have a problem? Did I provoke you?"

The neighbor Julia's voice choked, with a serious tone.

"You ask me why I hit you?"

"Now listen carefully, I, Julia, have done many wrong things in my life, but slapping you is not one of them."

At this moment, Dad went out and saw Mom covering her face and the arrogant Julia. He instantly became furious.

"If it wasn't for you bringing that waste, Carroll, back that day, my Nick wouldn't have been burned."

"What are you doing here today? Are you looking for that bastard again? I wish he would die outside and never come back!"

Upon hearing this, Julia's eyes turned red.

Her small body seemed to burst with infinite strength.

Without hesitation, she slapped my father's face.

Although she knew she couldn't afford to provoke my father. She felt sorry for me.

"Now, as you wish, Carroll, he's dead!"

"So, are you happy now?"