My parents forbade me from celebrating my 18th birthday because my sister didn’t feel special enough. So I moved out that night. A year later, their golden girl saw how successful I’d become, and her jealous meltdown shattered the family.

of balloon arches and dessert tables with her pink gel pen.

“I just want to have dinner with maybe five friends,” I said carefully. “We could go to that Italian place downtown. I’ve been saving money from work.”

“Absolutely not.”

My dad’s voice came from the doorway. I hadn’t even heard him come in.

“Do you have any idea how that would make your sister continue reading …