Chapter 1
It was Columbus Day weekend, and my stepbrother Jake and stepsister Madison were fighting in the backseat.
I was huddled in the corner when Jake’s fist smacked me in the face. I couldn’t help it-I started crying. But instead of helping me, Mom and Dad just kicked me
out of the car.
“Stop being such a brat, Emma! You wanted to go to Universal so bad? Then walk there yourself!”
Five year-old me stood in the middle of traffic, completely lost.
We were a blended family. Dad loved Jake. Mom loved Madison.
And me? I was just the unwanted baggage.
didn’t know what that meant back then, but I learned real quick that baggage wasn’t supposed to cry.
Daddy, I won’t cry anymore! I promise!”
watched our car drive away and panicked. My little legs started running, chasing after them.
but the traffic kept us apart.
Next second, I heard the screech of brakes. A huge truck was coming right at me-
My bunny, the one I’d been squeezing so tight, went flying.
nd so did I.
lay there on the cold asphalt, staring at nothing.
ty bloody bunny was sprawled right beside me. Dad and Mom had given it to me for my third birthday.
dults crowded around me, shaking their heads and muttering, “Poor kid. How’d she end up on the highway? Her parents must be devastated.”
ut then I remembered Mom’s voice from just last week: “You little brat, I should never have had you. All you do is take things away from Madison!”
ly body was getting colder by the second.
wanted to tell them they were wrong. Mom and Dad wouldn’t be devastated over me. Dad loved Jake better, and Mom loved Madison better. They were the rea amily.
was just the extra one nobody wanted.
ike that day I came home with my worksheet covered in gold stars, so excited to show them. But when I got there, Mom was already heading out the door with
er suitcase.
he barely glanced at me. “Madison’s staying at her dad’s this weekend. I need to be there for her, Ask your father if you need something.”
tugged at her sleeve, “But-”
Then the door slammed shut before I could finish.
just stood there crying, because all I wanted to say was that parent teacher night was tomorrow.
It was okay though. I still had Dad.
Except Dad never came home that night. I waited and waited, but he just didn’t show up.
The next day I went to school hungry.
When parent-teacher night came, I was the only kid whose parents didn’t show up.
My teacher called Dad, and he just said, “I’m busy,” then hung up.
1 kept my head down, twisting my shirt in my fingers, trying not to cry,
But the thing is, Dad was there. I saw him in Jake’s classroom right next door.
Now the pain was getting worse,
I looked toward where our car had disappeared, blood pouring from my mouth.
Our neighbor Mrs. Miller had told me once that when you cough up blood, it means you’re dying.
Through the haze of pain, I thought:
Maybe if I die, Mom and Dad won’t fight anymore?
And suddenly, the thought made me feel… relieved.
o 1 was useful for something after all. I wasn’t just the waste of space they always said I was.
inally, I managed a small smile as everything went dark.
teanwhile, Dad was gripping the steering wheel, completely pissed off.
Great. Just great. A damn accident blocking the road!”
hen he hit the horn. “Should’ve stayed home. Who knows how long we’ll be stuck in this traffic!”
inally, he turned and snapped at Mom: “This is all your fault for spoiling that brat! She just had to go to Universal Studios, didn’t she?”
