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.

something in my chest. Not quite sympathy, not quite satisfaction.

“I worked really hard,” I said. “I didn’t have a choice.”

“Because of your birthday thing?”

My jaw tightened.

“It wasn’t a thing, Beth. It was the final example in a very long pattern.”

She looked down at her plate.

“I know they weren’t always fair to you.”

“Do you?”

“I’m starting to get it continue reading …