The next moment I realise my thoughts were abruptly shattered by my mother's voice. I heard her asking my younger sister what she wanted for lunch. A sigh escaped my lips. Why can't the ground just open up and swallow me whole right now?
What stings the most isn't just the unfair treatment from my parents—it's the blatant way they shower my siblings with affection while I'm left in the shadows. As I sighed, my father glanced over and asked what was wrong. I gave a slight nod, signaling that everything was fine.
But honestly, the constant neglect and biased behavior have conditioned me to be wary of any semblance of care from my parents. Whenever they do show even the slightest bit of attention, I can't help but feel disgusted or irritated. It's as if their rare moments of affection only highlight the stark contrast to the neglect I'm so used to.