I dreamed about the moment I’d finally meet my parents, imagining how happy they would be, how we’d hug each other tightly and how touching it would be.

Sadly, it was all just my wishful thinking.

The moment I stepped inside my parents' house, I saw a girl my age in the room. She was dressed in a lavish princess dress, while my clothes were shabby in comparison.

The girl forced a smile and said, "Sister, welcome home."

I smiled timidly and walked inside, awkwardly standing off to the side.

Mom glanced at me and said, "No need to stand, have a seat."

The girl looked at my clothes with a hint of disgust, as if she was worried something dirty might rub off on her. She intentionally keeping her distance from me.

She was the child my parents adopted a few years ago because her own parents were gone.

Suddenly, I felt like I was the one who didn’t belong in that house. Like I was just a guest in their home. Watching the girl and my parents together, they looked like a perfect family. Meanwhile, I seemed completely out of place.

Mom fussed over Evangeline, piling food onto her plate. “Eva, eat more. You’ve gotten so thin. I made all your favorite dishes today.”

Evangeline pouted playfully. “Mom, I’m going to turn into a little pig if I eat any more…”

Meanwhile, I just quietly ate the rice from my bowl, mechanically picking at the simple potato stir-fry in front of me. I was too afraid to reach for anything else, worried that I might disrupt their happiness.

With a loud clang, the special pasta my mom had given me was flipped over. My mom was the one who did it. Her eyes were full of disdain as she stared at me and sneered, "You still have the audacity to eat the food I give youthen? I'd rather give them to the dog than to a rebel child like you."

Her words snapped me back to reality. I lowered my head in response, saying nothing.

This was my eighteenth birthday—no cake, no wishes, not even a bite of that pasta.

All I got was the news, or rather the decision, that I would donate my corneas.

Deep down, I still held onto a small hope that my parents wouldn’t be so cruel.

After that, they never brought it up again. It made me think that the matter was over. After all, Evangeline's eyes seemed perfectly fine. No sign of them was anything wrong.

***

Evangeline’s wealthy boyfriend invited her to go swimming and, surprisingly, she insisted on bringing the family along, including me.

I wanted to refuse, but they completely ignored my wishes—something that happened every day.

"Mom, I'm taking Clary to learn swimming."

Evangeline grabbed my hand and started running, pulling me along. The farther we ran, the further we got from the shore and the water grew deeper and deeper.

I desperately tried to break free from her grip, but the crashing waves knocked me down into the water.

I couldn’t swim at all and I ended up swallowing a lot of water as I struggled.

However, Evangeline just stood there, watching me with a relaxed demeanor. Wasn’t she here to learn swimming?

So, she already could swim from the start?

Evangeline stared at me coldly and said, "Clara, you better behave and not resist. Otherwise, I could take your life so easy if I really wanted to."

Instinctively, I reached out to her, gasping. “Help, glug, help…”

In a daze, I saw my mom’s anxious face as she handed over a float.

But it wasn’t for me—it was for Evangeline.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Evangeline pretending to struggle in the water while I slowly began to sink.

I always knew my parents didn’t love me, but now I realized it was true.

If I died now, would they regret it? Would they finally remember anything good about me?

When I woke up again, I was already lying in my bed.

I recognized it—it was my room, a storage room that had been converted into a bedroom.

When I say “converted,” it just meant they added a bed.

Surrounded by walls on all sides, it felt like a prison, trapping me inside.

I could faintly hear Evangeline talking with my parents.

“Eva, you silly child, how could you give her the float? If anything had happened to you, imagine how heartbroken we would have been.”

Evangeline smiled weakly and said, “Mom, I didn’t want anything to happen to my sister either. Thankfully, we’re all okay now and that’s what matters.”

In my heart, I sneered coldly. You were the one who orchestrated this mess! I wanted expose her.

I struggled to get up, my ribs throbbing in pain.

As I reached the door, I hesitated.

Even if I told the truth, would my parents believe me?

This kind of thing had happened before.

It was shortly after I arrived when Evangeline stood before me and suddenly shattered the vase in front of her.

The sound of the vase breaking rang out with a sharp “crash,” followed by Evangeline’s piercing scream.

“Ouch, it hurts! Boo hoo...”

To my shock, she had pressed her hand into the shards of broken porcelain.

Tears mixed with a triumphant, sinister grin spread across her face, twisted and terrifying.

And this was the face of a child, no more than seven or eight years old.

I watched her acting performance in a panic, my eyes filled with confusion.

Mom rushed over and held Evangeline tightly, scolding me harshly, “Clara, what did you do? You broke the vase and hurt your sister’s hand...”

In my mother’s arms, Evangeline’s lips curled into a smile, but her words were sweet and considerate, “Mom, please don’t blame Clary. I’m sure she didn’t mean to…”

I was overwhelmed with injustice and tears streamed down my face. “Mom, it was Evangeline! She broke the vase herself and hurt herself, not me…”

Smack!

A loud slap echoed in my ear, making my eardrum throb with pain.

Mom shouted furiously, “Clara, you’re still so young and you’re already lying? What will become of you when you’re older? You’re not eating dinner tonight. Stand at the door and reflect on your behavior…”

Then, she turned her head and gently comforted Evangeline, “Alright, Eva, don’t cry…”

I told the truth and got a slap in return, went hungry all night and was punished to stand until dawn...

Memories weighed down my steps and I sank onto the bed, staring blankly at the small light on the ceiling...

I don’t know how much time passed before someone came in. I didn’t need to look; I knew it was Evangeline.

“Oh dear, sister, are you alright?” Evangeline’s voice was dripping with smugness.

I closed my eyes, not wanting to see her. “Haven’t you had enough of acting in front of me?”

Evangeline chuckled, “Clara, here’s your meal. Don’t worry, I didn’t poison it. The college entrance exams are coming up—better prepare well.”

Before I could react, I saw the food placed on top of the drink crate, still steaming.

The drink crate was my dining table and study desk.

I was indeed hungry. Though it seemed odd, why should I argue with my stomach?

Soon enough, I understood why Evangeline was being so kind to me.

The moment my college entrance exam results were released, my parents were overjoyed, while a strange smile flickered across Evangeline’s lips.

Evangeline spent her days wrapped up in her romance with her wealthy boyfriend, her grades were too terrible to even mention.

Oddly, she didn’t seem worried. I feel like she was certain of her outcome.

That night, my mom cooked for me for the second time ever, saying it was to celebrate.

They never knew what I liked, so the dishes were all Evangeline’s favorites.

I only had a small amount of wine, yet I blacked out completely.

In my ear, I heard Evangeline’s devilish whisper, “From now on, I’ll go to your university. I’ll see the world through your eyes.”

***

When I woke up again, all I saw was darkness. No matter how wide I opened my eyes, it was useless—I couldn’t see anything.

I reached up to touch my eyes. There was a bandage, slightly damp.

I sniffed—it smelled like blood.

Suddenly, someone spoke. “You’re awake. If you’re hungry, there’s instant noodles. Cook them yourself. I’m heading to the hospital to see Eva.”

“Oh, and here are some antibiotics. If your eyes start bothering you, take one.”

My mother’s voice was as cold as winter frost, devoid of any warmth or concern.

She regarded me the way one might glance at a stray dog before shooing it away.

I screamed, my voice cracking with anguish, “Where are my eyes? You thieves, you monsters—you stole my eyes… Waaah…”

Her response was laced with disdain. “Enough, Clara. Just stay where you are. There’s some food for you—if you even care. If not, well, it wouldn’t matter.”

Bang!

The door slammed shut, the sound echoing like a final verdict, leaving me in a pit of despair.

The smell of chicken soup clung to the air, a cruel reminder that she had come home only to cook for Evangeline. I was nothing to her, not even a fleeting thought.

I felt utterly exhausted...

Blindly feeling my way, I eventually found the instant noodles. I crushed them into pieces with my hands, tore open the packet and shoved a chunk into my mouth, chewing with all the strength I had left.

I took out my notebook from under the pillow, caressing it for the last time.

I picked up a pen, recording my final connection to this world.

I could imagine how crooked my handwriting must be, but what did it matter? Who would even read it?

I’m blind now; it will never have a reader again.

“Mom, Dad, all I ask is that in the next life, I never meet you again…”

I felt my way along the wall until I reached the bathroom.

I filled the bathtub with water. It was cold, but not as cold as my heart in that moment.

I slowly lay down in the tub, the water’s buoyancy causing me to float.

I used all my strength to grip the edge of the tub, forcing myself to sink.

I felt the gradual suffocation, hearing the gurgling of the water.

It was finally about to end. My lips curled up involuntarily—this time, I was making my own decision.

Suddenly, a face appeared before me...