Chapter 3: My Twentieth Birthday

Vanessa got her trophy. She flaunted it on social media within seconds.

Derek immediately started competing. He demanded a celebration party too.

So Mom and Dad had to throw a party for both of them.

They picked the date that was supposed to be my birthday.

My twentieth birthday. Once in a lifetime.

I'd been looking forward to it for over half a year.

I'd made sure the whole family was free that day.

All those fantasies and hopes. They looked so ridiculous the moment reality hit.

At the party, both of them cornered me. Their voices were softer than I'd ever heard.

"We can always celebrate your birthday later. If we don't throw this party, Derek and Vanessa will be impossible. You know how insane they get when they're upset. Just do us this favor, okay? We'll make up your birthday after."

I forced my stiff lips into a smile. The words I almost said, this was supposed to be my last birthday in this house, I swallowed them.

The celebration cake got wheeled out. Derek and Vanessa stood shoulder to shoulder in front of it, faces lit up with pride and triumph.

Someone in the crowd asked casually, "Hey, isn't Wren's birthday today?"

Dad had already sliced the cake clean in half. He smiled at the person. "Cutting it three ways is messy. Next time."

I'd heard that line more times than I could count.

I should have seen it a long time ago. Mom and Dad's love only split evenly into two.

The share meant for me was never coming.

Mom was still worried I'd cause a scene. She pulled me aside and told me to help out more.

The entire party, I worked like hired help. Ran myself ragged.

I'd finally stopped to catch my breath when I overheard Mom talking to her best friend.

"I've got to say, your older twins are beautiful and charming, but this younger one is so mature. So considerate. You two playing favorites with the older ones isn't good."

Even telling myself I didn't care, my whole body tensed. I slowed down without meaning to, waiting for Mom's answer.

It took a long time before she spoke.

"I don't know. She never clings to me the way Derek and Vanessa do. The way she looks at me, it's like she's always waiting for me to mess up. What kind of child looks at her mother like that? Sometimes I feel like she isn't even mine. I just can't find it in me to feel anything for her."

In my daze, the kettle slipped.

Boiling water splashed across the back of my hand. The scalding pain was nothing compared to the ache splitting open inside my chest.

Then a pair of trembling hands wrapped around mine.

Grandma smiled and unclasped an old necklace from around her neck. She pressed it into my palm.

The pendant was a tiny silver heart. The edges worn shiny from decades of wear.

"Wren. I remembered. You're twenty today. Happy birthday. I don't have much. I've worn this necklace for forty years. Can this be your birthday gift?"

The necklace was plain. Maybe worth a few dozen dollars at most. But I knew it was the best thing Grandma had to give.

The tears broke first.

I wanted to say thank you. What came out was a choked, ragged sob.

Neighbors and friends were everywhere. Mom and Dad's glances kept flicking toward me.

I didn't even have the right to fall apart.

I could only hug Grandma tight with gratitude and flee to the break room to pull myself together.

It took everything I had to get my face back under control.

When I came back out, the necklace in my bag was gone.

The blood drained from my face. My eyes swept the room in a panic.

That was when I saw the glint of silver at Vanessa's throat.