Chapter 7
The house buzzed with activity by the time evening came. Mom had spent the afternoon decorating while Dad
and Ava went on the shopping trip stayed in my room, watching from my window as they returned with bags and bags of stuff.
Everything for Ava.
“Avery!” Mom called from downstairs. “Come help set up!”
I walked down to find the living room transformed. Pink decorations hung everywhere. Pink balloons floated near the ceiling. Even the tablecloth was pink.
My favorite color was purple and blue. Always had been but nothing was even placed in my consideration.
“Doesn’t it look beautiful?” Mom asked, adjusting a banner that read “Happy 12th Birthday!”
At least it didn’t say Ava’s name specifically.
“It’s very pink,” I said.
“Ava picked the theme,” Mom explained. “She has such good taste.”
“Of course she did.” I thought, rolling my eyes.
Ava bounced into the room wearing a brand new dress. It was white with little pink flowers, and it made her look like a princess. Her hair was curled perfectly, and she even had on a tiny bit of lip gloss.
“What do you think?” she spun around.
“You look nice,” I said.
“Just nice?” She pouted slightly.
“You look beautiful, sweetheart,” Dad said, coming in behind her with more decorations.
Her face lit up. “Thank you, Daddy.”
I looked down at my own outfit. Jeans and a regular t–shirt. Nobody had asked if I wanted a new dress.
The doorbell rang and Mom clapped her hands together. “The first guests!”
Kids from our class started arriving. Sarah, Jessica, Tommy, Marcus. All carrying presents wrapped in bright
paper.
“Happy birthday, Ava!” Sarah squealed, running over to hug my sister.
“Happy birthday, Avery,” she added as an afterthought, barely looking at me.
It went like that with everyone. Ava first, then me. Like I was an echo, a presence not meant to be there
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Chapter 7
Mom gathered everyone in the living room. “Alright, everyone! Let’s start with some games!”
“Can we play musical chairs?” Ava asked sweetly.
“Great idea!” Mom said. “Ava, you can help me set up the chairs.”
I watched as they arranged the chairs in a circle. When the music started, everyone laughed and ran around. But somehow, Ava always seemed to find a chair. Even when she was clearly out, Mom would find an excuse to let her back in.
“Oh, I think you sat down first, honey,” Mom would say.
Finally it was down to Ava and Tommy. The music stopped and they both dove for the last chair. Tommy got there first, but Mom smiled at Ava.
“I think it was a tie. You’re both winners!”
But she handed the prize to Ava. A small stuffed unicorn.
Tommy looked confused but didn’t say anything.
Next we played pin the tail on the donkey. Ava went first, spinning around with the blindfold on. She stumbled dramatically, giggling as Dad guided her gently toward the poster.
Her tail landed perfectly on the donkey.
“Wow!” Mom exclaimed. “Perfect shot!”
When it was my turn, I spun around and walked carefully toward the poster. I knew exactly where the donkey was. The tail landed right in the center.
“Very good, Avery,” Mom said. But her voice was flat.
“Mine was better,” Ava whispered to Sarah, loud enough for me to hear.
Sarah giggled. “Way better.”
The judging hadn’t even happened yet, but I could see it in Mom’s face. Ava would win this too.
“I think Ava wins this round!” Mom announced. “Such accuracy! She’s a natural”
My tail was literally more accurate than hers. But accuracy didn’t matter when the judge has already decided.
During cake time, everyone gathered around the table singing “Happy Birthday.” But they sang it looking at Ava. She blew out the candles while I stood there like decoration.
“Make a wish, birthday girl!” someone called out.
Birthday girl. Singular. Again, not meant to be here.
I felt something burning in my chest. The old me would have stayed quiet. Would have let it slide like always.
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Chapter 7
But I wasn’t the old me anymore.
“I want to make a wish too,” I said loudly.
The singing stopped. Everyone turned to look at me.
“What?” Mom asked.
“I said I want to make a wish too. It’s my birthday too.”
An uncomfortable silence fell over the room.
“Well,” Mom said slowly, “Ava already blew out the candles.”
“We could light them again,” I suggested.
34
“That’s silly,” Ava said with a small laugh. “You can’t blow out the same candles twice. It doesn’t work that way.”
“Says who?”
Her eyes
widened slightly. I could see the panic starting.
“Avery,” Dad said in a warning tone, “don’t be difficult.”
“Difficult.” I whispered, the word bitter on my tongue.
“I’m not being difficult. I just want to blow out some candles on my birthday.”
“You’re ruining the party,” Ava said quietly. Tears started to form in her eyes.
Fake tears. I knew they were fake. But everyone else didn’t or they knew and chose to ignore.
“Oh, sweetie,” Mom rushed to Ava’s side. “It’s okay.”
“I just wanted everyone to have fun,” Ava sniffled. “But Avery is making it about her.”
Making it about me? It was supposed to be about both of us!
“Avery,” Mom turned to me with angry eyes, “apologize to your sister right now.”
“For what?”
“For trying to steal the spotlight. For being selfish.”
The words hit me like a slap. Around the room, kids were staring at me. Some looked uncomfortable. Others looked like they agreed with Mom.
“I wasn’t trying to steal anything,” I said. “It’s my birthday too.”
“Yes, but you’re being very dramatic about it,” Dad added. “Ava wasn’t making a scene.”
18:39 Thu, Jan 1
Chapter 7
Because Ava never had to make a scene. Everything was handed to her.
“I’m sorry,” I said finally.
But I wasn’t sorry. Not anymore.
Mom’s face softened. “Thank you. Now let’s cut the cake so everyone can enjoy it.”
20
She cut the first piece and handed it to Ava. The second piece went to Sarah. I got the third piece even though it was my birthday.
The rest of the party passed in a blur. Present time was the worst. Gift after gift was placed in front of Ava while I got a few scattered ones. She squealed with delight over each one, making sure everyone knew how much she loved it.
My gifts were opened with a polite “thank you” and quickly set aside.
When the last guest left, the house felt empty and quiet. Mom and Dad were cleaning up in the kitchen while Ava organized her new toys in the living room.
I sat on the stairs, watching her.
“Today was the best day ever,” she said to our parents. “Thank you so much.”
“You deserve it, angel,” Mom replied. “You’ve been such a good girl.”
Such a good girl. When had anyone ever called me that?
“I’m going to bed,” I announced.
“Already?” Dad asked. “It’s still early.”
“I’m tired.”
“Oh,” Mom said softly. “Well, goodnight sweetheart.”
At least she called me sweetheart. That was something.
I walked upstairs slowly, my feet heavy on each step. In my room, I closed the door and leaned against it.
Today was supposed to be special. It was supposed to be our day.
But it was never our day. It was always Ava’s day, and I was just there.
I changed into my pajamas and climbed into bed. Through the thin wall, I could hear Ava in her room, talking to herself as she played with her new toys.
“And then the princess saved the whole kingdom,” she was saying in different voices. “Everyone loved her so much.”
I rolled onto my side and stared at the wall. This was my life. This had always been my life. Even when I tried
18:39 Thu, Jan 1
Chapter 7
to speak up, even when I tried to be heard, I was the problem.
I was always the problem.
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The burning feeling in my chest spread through my whole body. It felt like anger, but deeper. Like something breaking apart inside me.
All my life I had tried to be understanding. When Ava got more attention, I told myself she needed it more. When our parents favored her, I told myself they were just trying to help her confidence.
When friends liked her better, I told myself it was because she was casier to be around.
I had made excuses for everyone.
But today showed me the truth. It wasn’t that Ava needed more help. It wasn’t that she was more fragile or deserving.
It was that they simply loved her more.
And they didn’t care if I knew it.
A single tear rolled down my cheek onto my pillow.
In that moment, something inside me changed forever.
I stopped caring if I hurt their feelings.
I stopped making excuses for people who would never make excuses for me.
The tear dried on my face, and with it, the last of my old self disappeared.
Tomorrow, I will start by becoming someone new.
Someone who would never let them win again or rather will let them, to make the blow harder when I land it.
AD
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Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
