Forgotten Kinship - Chapter 8

Everyone was gone when I woke up.

I went downstairs to get breakfast and started reading. They didn’t come back for lunch. I didn’t ask. I ate lunch.

When I looked at social media, I realized that it was Ashley’s birthday. It was also my birthday.

Ashley was adopted on my birthday. Mom and Dad chose the same birthday so that it would be fair.

But then they only cared about Ashley. I was just there at the party. I looked at the picture of the three of them smiling.

It was better this way.

I ordered a cake for myself. It was my favorite. I closed my eyes to make a wish. Then my mom texted.

“Autumn, we’ll be back soon. Ashley’s upset. We need to comfort her. Don’t be mad.”

I wasn’t mad. I wanted them to come back later.

I was afraid Ashley was going to do something else to waste my time. Mom and Dad came back with half a cake. They smiled and pushed it towards me.

“Autumn, today is also your birthday. Happy birthday.”

I said thank you, but I didn’t grab the cake. My mom looked surprised.

“Cut the cake. We got it just for you.”

I pointed to the table. “I already ate.”

My dad said, “We got it for both of you. Just take a bite.”

I nodded, opened the box, and frowned. “I don’t like blueberries.”

Mom gasped. Then she looked guilty. “We forgot.”

Dad said, “We’ll get you another cake. For your birthday.”

I looked up. I always hated that Ashley was getting Mom and Dad’s attention. I wanted to have a birthday without sharing it with Ashley.

From the age of five, I wanted my own birthday. But my parents didn’t care.

“You need to treat her like your sister.”

“Ashley is not even mad! Why are you acting this way?”

One year I got mad and didn’t go to the party. The three of them had a fun time, and I was home all day with no food.

When they came back, I was crying. They yelled at me.

“It’s all your fault! You ruined everything!”

Now they said that they would get me a new cake.

I shook my head. “My birthday is today.”

They didn’t look happy, but they didn’t push it. They were careful with me for the next few days.

They woke me up, and they gave me my favorite dishes. Ashley wasn’t getting special treatment. She was upset and her heart started hurting.

But now, Mom and Dad didn’t take her to the hospital right away. Instead, they asked if she was really in pain.