He finally told me to leave.
The dining room fell silent. Everyone quietly made way for me to leave, watching me as if waiting for a troublesome burden to exit.
At that moment, everything became clear to me. No matter how much I humbled myself, I would never belong to this family. And honestly, I
didn’t want to.
When I looked up again, I was done being cautious. I thoughtfully considered the red envelope in my hand and slowly stood up. With my high heels, I was as tall as my dad now. I wasn’t the little girl who eagerly awaited seeing him once a month anymore.
I looked him straight in the eye and quietly asked, “If you always say you didn’t want me, then why was I even born?”
“Was it because
you
couldn’t control yourself, or am I not really your child?”
Dad’s eyes widened in shock, his lips trembling as he delayed raising his hand to strike me.
I stepped aside, causing him to stumble. Then I pointed my chin at mom.
11:30 AM
0
“And you. Stop pretending to cry. Why weren’t you more decisive when you didn’t want me?”
“Was it because dad forced himself on you when you got pregnant? Couldn’t you fight back at your weight?”
Mom finally stopped sobbing. Her act of guilt couldn’t hold up any longer. Her fingers shook with anger as she pointed at me.
“…How can children from the same mother be so different?”
Emily Johnson, angry at seeing her dear mom insulted, threw herself into her arms, crying. Ethan Johnson seemed ready to hit me, lunging to grab my wrist. Their boyfriends and girlfriends joined in to break up the chaos.
The dining room descended into disorder. As I was pulled around, I took a solid slap from dad. My face jerked sideways, and warm blood trickled from my nose.
“Get out!”
Dad shouted loudly.
*From
now on, we’re cutting ties. The Wilson family has no ungrateful child like you!”
My hand instinctively reached for my abdomen. Everything was fine there. Only then did I clearly recognize the strange connection I had already formed with the little life inside me.
Since that was what I wanted, I wouldn’t let it down. So I raised my face and stared at him intently.
“Fine, you said it. I’m no longer a daughter of the Wilson family.”
is face stern.
Dad looked at me with disgust, his f
“That’s right, I said it. My words are like nails!
I wiped my face harshly.
*Great! From now on, our lives are separate. Whoever seeks help from the other is a fool.”
Dad stiffened his neck, not saying a word. Emily Johnson cried out.
“Yes! Whoever seeks help is a coward, cursed to suffer a terrible fate!”
“Just leave already! Or do you want to drive my mom to death?”
I smiled with satisfaction, casually taking the medical report from my pocket and tossing it onto the red envelope.
“Very well, Emily Johnson, remember what you said today”
After leaving the Wilson family, I should have felt a sense of relief. The dilemma that had consumed me all afternoon was finally resolved: 1 could keep the baby without the guilt of not donating bone marrow. The relatives I had tried to appease for years were no longer my burden. Yet, even as I laughed, tears rolled down my cheeks. Sitting alone at the deserted bus station, I watched as everyone else found their way home, except for me.
My phone buzzed with messages in the friends and family group c chat. The first notification was from my dad:
“Ungrateful daughter Nora Johnson insulted her parents and behaved Improperly. She has been disowned by the Willson family. Henceforth, any loans or donations she seeks under our family name have nothing to do with us. Please take note!”
The words froze my blood. I couldn’t fathom the despair I would feel if I were the one who fell ill. Harvey Wilson was merciless, yet he was only
backing himself into a corner.
The family group chat came alive with gossip about what had happened. My aunt remorked, “Children not raised nearby can be hard to
ith calm the albiation “Tetas not he too much. Blood ties are.
<
No one seemed to take the announcement seriously until Ethan Johnson added his voice:
“Nora Johnson got sick and now wants to drag my sister into it, forcing her to donate bone marrow.”
“She’s not satisfied with her own misery and wants my sister to suffer too, trying to guilt my parents into losing both kids.”
The chat exploded with reactions.
“I heard bone marrow donation isn’t that risky?”
“If it’s not risky, maybe she just wants to save her life, not harm your sister or pressure your parents!
This poor child, if it’s not risky, she should donate the bone marrow.
As the conversation spiraled out of control, Emily Johnson Intervened.
“Family and friends, airing dirty laundry isn’t our style, but Dad posted this to prevent anyone from being misled.
“The risk of bone marrow donation is uncertain, but Nora Johnson will definitely look for a match among you.”
“Dad just wants to warn you before anyone gets hurt:
Ethan chimed in again.
“If she approaches you, we won’t be responsible if anything goes wrong.”
With that, those who had defended me fell silent. Nobody wanted trouble.
Then, in her usual polite and reasonable manner, Emily added, “It’s human nature to fear risk. Not donating isn’t shameful. We all have families. Honestly, if I were sick, I wouldn’t ask family to donate: People, eager to avoid potential danger, started agreeing with Emily. My disownment was quietly accepted. I leaned against the bench, unable to suppress a bitter chuckle, Laughing and crying, I took screenshots and called my husband.
