They Thought I Failed—Until I Turned Down Harvard Chapter 02
When we came out of Route 128 Station, Ethan was pushing Olivia’s suitcase ahead of us.
I followed behind.
I had just stepped into the elevator when the display showed it was full.
Olivia was still outside.
Ethan nudged my suitcase back out, then pulled Olivia into the elevator.
“Jenny, your suitcase is huge. It takes up too much room.”
“Just take the next one. We’ll wait for you by the exit.”
Before I could argue, the doors closed.
They had already turned toward each other and started talking.
Neither of them seemed to notice my embarrassment.
By the time I reached the exit, they were nowhere in sight.
Neither were my parents, who were supposed to be there to pick us up.
The rain started coming down hard.
Without an umbrella, I took shelter under an overhang and called my parents.
It took half an hour before they finally answered.
Dad gasped. “Jenny, you weren’t in the car?”
“Oh, honey, I got distracted. I thought you were already in the car.”
Mom started scolding him as she took the phone.
“This is all your father’s fault. But we’re almost home already, so just get yourself an Uber.”
I stared at the sheets of rain.
My vision blurred.
There had been four people in the car.
And none of them had noticed one was missing.
I didn’t know when it had happened, but somewhere along the way, I had become invisible in my own family.
Route 128 Station was outside the city, and in weather like this, ride after ride kept getting canceled.
It was fully dark before an Uber finally accepted the trip.
The driver took one look at my soaked clothes and handed me a clean towel from the back seat.
“Here. Dry off before you catch a cold.”
“It’s almost impossible to get a ride in weather like this. Why didn’t your family come get you?”
My eyes stung again.
I shook my head.
They did come.
Just not for me.
On the ride home, I saw a post from Dad on Facebook.
The photo showed the four of them together.
Olivia was standing close beside Ethan, holding a huge bouquet of sunflowers, her favorite flowers.
My fingers tightened around my phone.
It felt like a hole had opened in my chest, and the tears wouldn’t stop.
Olivia was the daughter of Dad’s best friend from the Marine Corps.
Her father had died while serving overseas. A few years later, her mother died after an illness as well, and Dad brought Olivia into our home.
At first, they gave her the best of everything because they wanted her to feel welcome.
Gradually, their own daughter became the one they forgot.
When I walked inside, Dad was pushing the last slice of strawberry cheesecake toward Olivia.
“Olivia, eat up. Strawberry is your favorite. I picked this up especially for you this afternoon.”
I couldn’t remember when it started.
Mom always remembered to save dessert for her. Ethan always remembered her coffee order.
Somehow, there was never anything left for me.
Olivia got up and came toward me.
She took my suitcase and tried to lead me to the dining table.
“Jenny, this is my fault. I walked too fast. Don’t be mad.”
I was already in a terrible mood, so I pulled my hand away.
As I went upstairs, I heard Dad behind me.
“Olivia, don’t take it personally. Jenny’s just spoiled because we’ve indulged her too much. I wish she were half as considerate as you.”
I shut myself in my room.
After being drenched in the rain, I came down with a high fever.
No one came to check on me, even late into the night.
Then my phone lit up.
For one stupid second, hope flickered inside me.
[Jenny, your father is right. We’ve spoiled you too much.]
[Starting tomorrow, we’re cutting off your allowance and the credit card we gave you. Learn from Olivia and stop making everyone worry about you.]
That last little bit of hope shattered completely.
I sat on the floor, buried my face in my knees, and cried until I had nothing left.