Unloved and Left to Burn

My confusion was soon cleared up though.

After the party ended, everyone retired to their rooms. With nowhere else to go, I trailed behind my parents.

Dad sat on the sofa, rubbing his temples in exhaustion. Mom pulled out a bunch of medicine from the suitcase and placed it on the table before him.

"Honey, you really should go to the hospital," Mom said. "The lab just called, and the results are in. Frida is a kidney match. You can finally get the surgery."

Dad sighed. "But she's so selfish. What if she refuses to donate her kidney to me?"

Mom scoffed, setting down her cup on the coffee table with a heavy thud. "Why would she refuse? It's just a kidney. Once she donates it, we'll take care of her for the rest of her life." She huffed. "Honestly, if it weren't for your health, I would never want someone like her around us. Ever since she came to our house, Calla has suffered so much."

Dad looked upset as he said, "Alright, enough. Frida is still our biological daughter. If not for Calla's birth mom, Frida wouldn't have ended up in that orphanage. It doesn't look like Frida suffered much, but she was still wronged."

Mom rolled her eyes, countering, "Wronged? Didn't you hear what Ms. Marsden said? She raised Frida like a daughter. That is until Frida nearly killed her! That heartless brat deserves what she gets." She paused, then added in rising exasperation, "Besides, how is Calla's mother's doing any of Calla's fault?"

Dad seemed to agree with what Mom said. He took his medicine and replied, "Okay, okay. I wasn't blaming Calla. It's just bad luck for Frida, I suppose. You're right though. Once Frida has donated her kidney, we can buy her a place and keep her out of our hair."

Mom finally seemed satisfied. "Yes, that's fair. Calla's the only daughter I truly care about. Get Frida a place far away, so I don't have to see her. I'd hate for her to ruin things again."

My parents chatted for a while longer before turning off the lights and heading to bed. No one saw me standing there in stunned silence for over half an hour.

So this was the reason. My parents brought me back just to take my kidney. They had kept me at arms' length because they believed the horrible things Bethany had said about me when she was the one who abused me. They genuinely did not love me.

I suddenly felt like a joke and started laughing at myself, my tears falling uncontrollably. Why? I genuinely thought I would be loved, but everything was just a scheme.

After I calmed down, I went to my parents' bedside to watch their sleeping faces. They resembled what I imagined parents to be when I was young. Dad was tall and handsome while Mom was gentle and beautiful. But now, I found their faces despicable.

These people were not my parents. They were Calla's parents. They would not protect me, only her. All this while, they had never believed me.

Resentment grew within me. I extended a hand, lingering around Mom's neck, but I couldn't do it. What people said was right. Parents might have plenty of children, but a child only has a set of parents. No one had taught me how not to love my parents when they did not love me.

I crouched down in the corner, trying to make myself feel better.

Suddenly, Dad's phone rang, breaking the quiet night. He answered, groggy, and I overheard the voice on the other end.

"Is this Mr. Yeldham? There's been a gas leak explosion at your home, and we found a young woman's body at the scene. Would you be able to come down and help with the investigation?"