His Exclusive Favor

I hid on the hill for three days and nights before my dad finally found me, weak and barely alive, on the fourth morning, leading a group of villagers.

I hadn’t eaten or drunk anything and had caught a fever from the rain. I was delirious, but I’d never forget the warmth of my father’s arms as he held me.

“Anna, it’s okay. I’m taking you home,” he kept saying.

I forced my eyes open just a little, and the bright sunlight fell across his familiar face. He was like a warm ray of light breaking through all my darkness.

At that moment, I felt that even if I died, it would be worth it.

“Dad...” I whispered before everything went black.

When I woke up again, I was back in my bed.

Dad was sitting beside me, and I clung to his hand like it was my lifeline.

My mother pretended to care, bringing me some ginger tea to warm me up, her face painted with concern.

“Anna, you’ve really been acting up lately, disappearing without a word. You know how worried I was,” she lied through her teeth.

In truth, she hadn’t even bothered to tell Dad that I was missing, nor had she called the police. She hadn’t searched for me at all. She’d probably hoped I’d never come back.

It was our kind neighbor, Julia, who noticed I was gone and called my father.

Mom shot me a warning look, afraid I’d spill the truth. Then she put on her sweetest smile and urged Dad to hurry back to work.

He had taken time off to come home and check on me, and now that I seemed to be okay, he stood up to leave.

But I couldn’t let go of his hand.

I knew that if I did, I’d lose him forever.

I made up my mind to expose my mother’s lies.

It wasn’t about the chance to go to college – after all, I was dying. I just wanted to remain the pride of my father’s heart.

“Dad, I didn’t score in the low range. I actually did really well. I could’ve made it into a top university.”

My mother’s face twisted in rage. She slammed the ginger tea down, and it splashed across my face.

It didn’t hurt. Instead, it felt oddly satisfying.

For once, her mask slipped in front of Dad.

My sister, afraid of losing her chance at college, started crying and throwing a fit.

The house descended into chaos, and everyone waited for Dad to be the voice of reason.

I believed in him. I was sure my loving father would be angry and demand justice for me.

But reality hit me like a punch to the gut. He gently pried my fingers from his hand, avoiding my gaze.

“Anna,” he said quietly, “It’s too late to change things now. I’m sorry.”

My mind went blank.

The father I’d always seen as fair and just had chosen my sister over me.

I felt the ground collapse beneath me.

A metallic taste rose in my throat, and I coughed up blood. I turned away, wiping my mouth with a tissue as the door closed behind him.

The room was silent, and I looked at the bloodstained tissue in my hand.

“Is this finally the end?” I laughed, but tears blurred my vision. “Why, Dad? Why are you just like her?”

Dad no longer loved me. No one cared about me in this world.

Maybe I really was just an extra person all along.