Burned at the Stake

Seeing Grandpa unconscious in the emergency room, I was nearly driven mad with anxiety.

Every time Mom punished me, Grandma and Grandpa would hold me in their arms and comfort me gently.

"Don't be afraid, sweetie. Grandpa and Grandma are here."

Now that Grandma was gone, Grandpa was the only one left. But now, even he…

I kept pacing around him, desperately wanting to do something. But my arms passed through everything, a cruel reminder that I was now just a soul.

Whether alive or dead, I was still useless.

Finally, Grandpa was wheeled out of the emergency room. Although his life had been saved, he now had total dementia.

He didn't recognize anyone. But when he saw Mom and Yvonne, he became agitated.

Dad was confused, but Mom was quick to call a nurse to give Grandpa a sedative.

Grandpa soon fell asleep. Meanwhile, Dad seemed to grow suspicious. The way he looked at Mom and Yvonne had turned colder.

"When I went out to look for Nat, only you and Vonnie were at home. Did Dad really just fall down the stairs by accident?"

Mom's eyes widened in fury.

Ignoring the presence of other patients in the ward, she shrieked curses at him. "You heartless bastard! I've served your family for so many years, and now you're accusing me of harming your father?"

Seeing her shouting at the top of her lungs, Dad's anger vanished in an instant. He tried to placate her instead.

"No, it's just that… so many things have happened lately. I can't shake the feeling that something's wrong."

Mom let out a sigh of relief, then hit him a few more times before replying, "What could be wrong? The problem is that wretched girl, Natalie! Ever since she was born, nothing's gone right!

"First, she caused me to never bear another child, then she killed Mother, and now Father's lost his mind. We really can't keep that damned girl around any longer. Tomorrow…"

Dad frowned and wanted to ask more questions, but the doctor pulled him aside for a conversation.

Mom took the opportunity to drag Yvonne home.

On the way, they ran into my teacher, who had come with good news.

"Mrs. Lindell! Your daughter Natalie won a prize for her essay! She's very talented, so you should nurture her well. She has even been invited to a state competition."

Mom was still in a bad mood from the fight with Dad. She didn't even glance at the certificate, just took it and tore it to pieces.

"You're her teacher? Natalie is dropping out of school in a few days. She can't even behave like a proper person, so what's the point of studying? It's better to marry her off early and have her help support the family!"

The teacher gave an awkward smile. "You shouldn't say that. Natalie's prize comes with a 5,000-dollar reward. And if she keeps doing well, she'll earn even more in the future."

The teacher tried hard to persuade her, but Mom only heard one thing—money. She snatched the envelope out of the teacher's hands and greedily counted the cash inside.

"That damned girl is only useful in moments like this! Vonnie, let's go. I'm going to buy you a new dress!"

Looking at the teacher's disappointed face made me feel even worse.

I wanted to study. I wanted to prove to Mom that I was worth something—worth more than Yvonne even.

All I wanted was for her to give me a little, just a tiny bit, of love. But no matter what I did, I could never earn a single word of praise from her.

Mom cheerfully took Yvonne shopping. But while trying on dresses, Yvonne stained one because of her period.

Mom saw the red on the hem and didn't show even a trace of disgust. Instead, she doted on her and went to buy sanitary pads.

Not long ago, I had also nervously gone to Mom for help during my first period. But all I got was a storm of curses.

She had yanked my ear hard and scolded, "You little wretch! Were you trying to embarrass me in public on purpose? Disgusting! Stay away from me!"

I wiped my tears as I cried and washed my underwear again and again under her disgusted glare.

But from being hungry all the time and constantly cold, my period came only twice before stopping altogether. Mom never cared. She just said I was useless.

Mom and Yvonne stayed out until late that night.

When they came home, they saw Dad sitting tiredly on the couch. "Someone needs to stay with Father tonight. Go take care of that."

It was hard work. Finally, Mom remembered me. "Where's Natalie? She's been a freeloader. Let her go!"

But she looked around and still didn't see me.

Anger flaring, Mom grabbed a clothes hanger and stormed through the house. "Natalie! Get out here this instant! If I find you, I swear I'll break one of your legs!"

Yvonne, eager to please, pulled out a small wooden box from my drawer. "Mom, this is Natalie's most treasured box. If you smash it, she's bound to come out!"

Mom looked at her with admiration. "That's my daughter. So clever!"

She then said, "I want to see what that little brat's been sneaking around to buy with the money she stole!"

Without hesitation, she smashed my box.

But it wasn't what she expected inside. There were just a few river pebbles, a stub of a pencil, and some maple leaves.

Mom froze for a second, then her expression turned to scorn. "Just a pile of junk! She treasures trash like this. People would think we abused her or something!"

I slowly crouched down and caressed the little treasures I had guarded so carefully. She didn't remember but those were all gifts she once gave me.

Maybe in her eyes, I was just like the gifts I cherished so much—nothing but trash.