They Stole My Name and My Life

4: 4

"Have you lost your mind?"

The shout tore out of me before I could stop it, aimed straight at Ivor.

"Where did you throw them?"

Without those documents I couldn't get to the research institute at all, and getting replacements issued would make me miss the reporting date.

Mom and Dad came to the top of the stairs and scolded me in low voices.

"Keep your voice down. Gwynnie's resting in her room. She doesn't want to hear you."

I was shaking all over, fighting to hold it together, but the tears came anyway.

"Ivor, where did you throw them?"

Ivor had never seen me like this, out of control, and a flicker of panic crossed his face.

"In the trash cans by the front gate. Don't cry. Worst case, I'll go with you tomorrow to get them reissued—"

Before he finished, I'd shoved past him and run out the door.

Barefoot, I ran to the trash area by the complex gate, and the heat and the stench made me gag.

Twelve bins, all full, and I dug through them one by one.

Partway through, a security guard came over with a stick to chase me off.

"Where'd this beggar come from? You've made a mess of the bins. Who's supposed to clean this up?"

I begged them through my tears.

"My family threw out my documents. I have to find them."

The bandaged wound tore open, blood running down my elbow and dripping to the ground.

I don't know how long I searched, but I finally found my documents in one of the bags.

I took some tissues from my pocket and wiped them clean.

Filthy and barefoot, I walked back home.

The stones had cut my feet open, leaving bloody prints along the ground.

I reached out to enter the door code.

"Incorrect password," the lock announced, the alert echoing down the hallway.

Mom's voice came from behind the door.

"Your dad and I talked it over. Go stay somewhere else for a while, and once Gwynnie's doing better, you can come back."

An envelope slid out under the gap in the door.

She lowered her voice.

"A transfer might let Gwynnie see it, so take this cash and use it for now."

I drew a deep breath.

"My luggage—"

Before I could finish, she opened the door and pushed out the suitcase I'd already packed.

Then she shut the door at once.

I didn't miss it, that instant before the door closed, the way she covered her nose and looked at me with disgust.

The hallway went quiet again.

This time, I didn't cry.

My tears had never been able to compete with Gwyneth's moods.

I left the envelope on the floor untouched.

I picked up the phone sitting on my suitcase and changed my flight from tomorrow night to tonight.

Went to a public bathhouse and washed up.

Then I dragged my suitcase to the airport.

Just before I turned the phone off, I saw a message pop up in the family group chat.

Gwyneth had posted a photo of herself with Mom, Dad, and Ivor, all seated at the dining table.

On the table sat an elegant birthday cake.

Written across it: "Happy Birthday to Princess Gwynnie."

Today was my birthday too.

It was only that ever since Gwyneth came back, I hadn't been allowed to celebrate my birthday with her.

In the chat, Mom, Dad, and Ivor had all sent her birthday cash gifts.

The next second, Ivor sent me a birthday gift in a private message.

Underneath it he added a line:

"Why don't you go change your name? The name was Gwynnie's to begin with, after all."

I didn't reply.

I tapped to leave the family group, then blocked every one of them.

Powered off.

……

Watching the notice that Kayla had left the group, Mom and Dad had no reaction at all.

Gwyneth's lips curved, and she ate with even more enjoyment.

Ivor sent Kayla a question mark, meaning to ask why on earth she'd suddenly left the group, only to see he'd been blocked.

He frowned, chalking it up to Kayla throwing a fit over what he'd said.

It wasn't until half a month later, when no one could reach Kayla at all, that everyone noticed something was wrong.

Mom, Dad, and Ivor rushed to the police station to file a report.

The officer on duty was the very one who had recovered Gwyneth all those years ago.

His face went white, and he pulled them into a blind spot away from the cameras.

"I knew this couldn't stay buried forever. I just didn't think you'd find out this soon—"