From Cocoon to Butterfly: Meeting the Beautiful Self

Zoey looked at our parents, took a deep breath, and said, “Mom, Dad, his family’s finances are a mess. They’re getting slammed by competitors and might go under.”

“Edward’s different,” she added. “I’ve heard he’s getting a promotion soon because of his brilliant business plan. If I married Charles, I don’t know how hard it’d be. And... Edward’s been in love with me for over ten years. He’ll treat me right.”

She spoke through her tears in my dad’s arms. My mom, looking heartbroken, said, “Oh, sweetie, you’ve finally grown up and started thinking about what’s best for you. It’s okay, it’s okay. Mom and Dad will handle everything.”

What? I was totally surprised. It felt like my mom was trying to make Zoey’s taking my fiancé seem like a noble act.

Watching their warm family moment, I felt like a stranger on the outside, unable to fit in. A bitter smile spread across my face.

When I first graduated from college and hadn’t landed a job yet, my mom told me I was an adult now and needed to move out. She said I shouldn’t rely on them because they were getting older and couldn’t support me much.

During my first Christmas Eve after starting work, I came home to find that my room and Zoey’s room had been combined into one big room for her.

At that time, Zoey pretended to be sorry and said, “Oh, I’m really sorry, Celina. Mom and Dad thought my room was too small, and since you don’t come home much, they merged our rooms. Why don’t we share a bed tonight?”

It was common for sisters to share a room, but I knew it wasn’t going to work with Zoey. When we were kids, she’d beg to sleep with me, only to complain to our parents that I took her blanket or kicked her in my sleep. I could see the smugness in her eyes whenever Mom and Dad scolded me.

So, on Christmas Eve, I went to a hotel alone.

Outside the window, thousands of lights glittered, but none of them were meant for me.

“You say Edward’s been secretly in love with you for years? That’s impossible! He’s been with me for three years,” I interrupted the warm scene, pretending to show concern.

“Don’t believe me?” Zoey shot me a disdainful look after hearing my doubts.

She pulled out her phone, logged into her rarely-used WhatsApp account, and handed it to me. “See for yourself.”

I took the phone and immediately recognized the familiar number. It was Edward’s account.

Scrolling through the chat history, I came across messages from a few years ago.

[Zoey, I saw you at the park today. You were wearing a red dress, standing out in the crowd, so vibrant and dazzling.]

[Zoey, if we could go to the same high school, our time there would be so much more exciting. I’d definitely stand in front of you and tell you how I feel.]

...

[Zoey, today someone was watching me who looks a lot like you. I found out she’s your sister. Since I can’t be by your side, I’ll protect you in my own way, as if I were family.]

What a beautiful, enviable love! But it’s a love built on the pain it causes me.

But wait, this can’t be right! Something is off!

While I was reading those messages, my heart twisted in pain. I even found it hard to breathe.