Sisterhood#

Mother said my little sister was born for me.

I'm not healthy. They raised my little sister to be my future bone marrow donor.

'But what did my little sister do to deserve this?'

'Don't worry, Little Sister. From now on, I'll be the one to protect you!'

'They won't let my little sister take the College Admissions Exams, demanding she come to the hospital for testing first? Fine by me! If she can't take the exams, I'll just die!'

'They say we have no money and want my little sister to stay home to take care of me? Fine! I'll pull out my own oxygen tube!'

'Soar high, Little Sister. I've got your back!'

1

Mother was arguing with the doctor again, demanding to know when my body would be ready for a bone marrow transplant.

The doctor explained helplessly that my body still wasn't ready and that I needed to rest and recuperate more.

Mother's voice was sharp and shrill. "My Ellie can't wait any longer! If we miss the optimal window for the transplant, how will you compensate us?"

The doctor frowned, unable to hide his dismay. "Mrs. Shaw, your other child is your daughter too, you know!"

"Some daughter. If it weren't for my Ellie, she never would have been born. I wouldn't have had her otherwise."

My mother's piercing words made the people around us turn to stare.

The knife my little sister was using to peel fruit for me dropped to the floor. The corners of her eyes were bright red.

With her back to me, she wiped away her tears. Even her crying was silent.

I let out a loud cough. My little sister rushed to my side, and Mother's face paled as she hurried over as well.

She shoved my little sister aside, her voice laced with resentment. "It's all your fault, you jinx. Get away from your sister. Don't you know that seeing you so healthy just agitates her?"

I gripped Mother's hand tightly, my voice weak. "Mother, don't you dare talk to my little sister like that again. I've already told you—I'm not getting the transplant."

As soon as I finished speaking, tears started rolling down Mother's cheeks.

"Ellie, my poor, poor Ellie..."

I looked at the white hair at her temples and thought about how she had spent the last twenty years running herself ragged over my illness.

I could never hate her. It was just that Mother was sometimes too cruel to my little sister.

I glanced over at my little sister, who was silently peeling a piece of fruit. She was always so quiet and obedient.

She was wearing clothes that had been washed until they were faded and white. She was so thin and frail that at eighteen, she looked more like fifteen or sixteen. It made my heart ache.

I pulled my gaze away and said to Mother in a wheedling tone, "Mother, I want to eat dinner from Heaven's Feast. I want the ones with beef filling, the ones with corn filling, and the pork and scallion ones, too."

"But..."

"I know I can't finish it all, but my little sister will be here, right? I want to try them all. I guess she can just have my leftovers."

Mother quickly agreed. "Alright, alright." As she walked out the door, she shot my little sister a glare.

"Bonnie Sterling, you take good care of your sister. If I find out you..."

"Mother..." I cut her off instinctively.

Seeing my serious expression, Mother immediately plastered on a smile to placate me. "I won't say it, I won't say it. Ellie, dear, don't be unhappy."

I nodded.