Counting Pennies, Losing Daughters

Just then, the group chat for the concert's part-time workers was flooded with photos of Hannah at the concert.

"I'm so jealous! She's Charlie Carter's superfan. She's never missed any of his concerts, and she always gets insider tickets somehow!"

Hannah and I were living completely different lives.

Most of the part-time workers in the group chat were Charlie's fans.

Someone else replied, "I know her! Her name's Hannah Lambert. She's my roommate, and she's an actual heiress of a wealthy family. She gets around 10,000 dollars for her allowance every month. The skincare essence that she uses costs more than 1,000 dollars per bottle.

"She never wears the same clothes twice, and she always treats us to meals. Oh, that's right. The last time she went on a vacation out of the country, she bought presents for all her classmates.

"She never has to buy her own daily necessities. Her mother prepares everything for her beforehand. Hannah also calls Mrs. Lambert and talks to her for hours every night.

"Her parents won't hesitate to drop whatever they're doing to accompany her if she tells them that she wants to go to a particular concert. I would be over the moon with joy if I were in Hannah's shoes. She's so lucky to have such wonderful parents!"

I remained silent as I scrolled through the messages in the group chat.

I only received 500 dollars every month, even though I was already in university. It wasn't enough to keep my stomach filled, let alone be able to afford skincare products or sanitary items. It was also why I never participated in any dorm parties.

I handed out flyers and worked part-time in the cafeteria. I also worked as a tutor once, but the parents were horrible, refusing to pay me and even lying about me bullying their children. They even caused a fuss at the university, demanding that I give them monetary compensation.

After eating nothing but sliced bread for a few days in a row, I couldn't take it anymore and carefully sent a message to Mom, asking if she could send me 200 dollars.

"Is 500 dollars not enough for you? How much more money do you want?" was her mocking response. "Why are you always so greedy? How shameless can you be?

"Stop being so vain and focus on your studies. Besides, you're an adult now. If you want more money, find a job and earn it yourself. We won't take care of you for the rest of your life.

"Hannah also only gets 500 dollars a month. I've never given her even a single cent more, but she has never asked me for more money. You're two years older than her, but you keep asking me for money. Do you believe that my money is owed to you?"

The color drained from my face as I listened to Mom's harsh words, and I hastily avoided my roommates' curious gazes.

Calling Mom and Dad was considered a luxury for me.

I would be lying if I said I wasn't jealous of my roommates whenever I saw them chatting happily with their parents on the phone.

Every time I tried to communicate with Mom, she would give me the cold shoulder and refuse to speak more than a few words to me. She would also swiftly end the call within two minutes.

I had been under the assumption that Mom and Dad treated Hannah the same way they treated me. I even felt sorry for her, wondering if she was living well away from home.

It was only then that I understood that Mom and Dad weren't incapable of love. They simply didn't love me.

I was just about to lock my phone when someone tagged me in the group chat.

"I just noticed that you and Hannah have the same last name, Helena. But wow, the two of you are leading completely different lives."

I folded the medical bill into a paper airplane and tossed it into the trash before replying, "She's actually my biological sister."