Dad Only Loved Me After I Died

My mother was my father’s sugar baby.

Every year, he would hold her in his arms and promise, “Wait for me. Next year, I’ll marry you.”

He said it for five years.

In the end, he married a woman from his own social circle instead.

My mother never got the wedding she dreamed of. After that, she became unstable and cruel.

She used me as a way to get my father’s attention.

“Go. Call your father and tell him you’re sick. Tell him to come see you.”

But my father only frowned and yelled at me.

“You’re already learning to lie from your mother at such a young age? Always haunting me like this. Disgusting.”

They blamed all the anger they had for each other on me.

Later, my father’s wife gave birth to a son.

He became the perfect husband and father in everyone’s eyes.

My mother only grew worse. She hit me harder and harder, all just to make my father come look at her once.

When I was seven, I fell down the stairs and broke my leg.

I begged my mother to take me to the hospital.

She slapped me hard across the face.

“What are you pretending for? You fall once and suddenly your leg is broken? You’re just like your irresponsible father. You were born to make me suffer.”

My father rushed over, but he only shoved my mother to the floor in irritation.

“If you use this little bastard to fake being sick and trick me again, don’t expect another cent from me.”

Their screams and sobs tangled together.

I lay on the cold floor, slowly losing consciousness.

This time, could they finally stop fighting?

The shouting grew louder and louder.

My father shoved my mother to the floor.

I forced myself through the pain in my leg and crawled toward him. Then I grabbed the hem of his pants and whispered, “Dad, please stop fighting with Mom. I’m okay now.”

The next second, he kicked me away.

My already injured leg slammed into the table and chairs again.

The pain was so bad my vision went dark. I curled up instinctively, trembling on the floor.

But my father only glanced at me in disgust.

“Stop pretending. When have you ever actually been sick? Every time we take you to the hospital, nothing’s wrong with you.”

Then he turned to leave.

My mother grabbed him with both hands and refused to let go.

“What is that supposed to mean? He’s your son too. You’re really just going to walk away and leave him?”

My father yanked himself free and snapped, “What do I mean? You’ve taught this kid to do nothing but lie. He’s exactly like you. Disgusting.”

My mother froze.

Then a wild look flickered in her eyes.

“Exactly like me? Weren’t you the one who lied to me first? You kept saying you were going to marry me. And now?

“If you hadn’t promised me that, I never would’ve given birth to this child. Since you don’t care about him, I won’t either.”

My father shook his head like none of it mattered.

“Fine by me. I don’t want him anyway.”

My heart clenched.

Dragging my injured leg behind me, I crawled back to him and begged, “Dad, please want me. I’ll be good. I don’t eat much. I won’t cause you any trouble.”

For once, my father looked down at me.

Maybe I looked too pitiful.

Maybe I looked too much like him.

For a moment, I thought I saw a trace of pity in his eyes.

He rubbed my head.

“Don’t learn from your mother anymore. But I have to go home and cook something nice for your little brother today, so I’m in a hurry. I can’t stay with you.”

Before I could say anything, he turned and left.

My mother collapsed on the floor and broke down sobbing.

I didn’t know how much time passed before she finally stood up.

She looked at me once, then turned and walked away without the slightest hesitation.

Before she left, I heard her say, “Since even you can’t make your father stay, you’re useless to me too.”

My instinct to survive made me want to grab her and never let go.

But when I saw her walking away without looking back, I lowered my hand in despair.

The pain in my leg grew worse and worse.

Tears streamed down my face.

Then the pain blurred my mind until I could barely stay conscious.

It hurt so much, Dad.

I really wasn’t lying to you…

Slowly, I stopped feeling the pain at all.

Without thinking, I tried to move my leg.

To my shock, it actually moved.