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My mom and dad break up, I mean my dad has his first wife so my mom is the other woman. She got pregnant and the result was me, their relationship with my biological father didn't last. She became a single mom, but she never neglected me before as she loved me and I can feel she never regretted having me even if I was just a product of their mistake. I can feel it through her embrace, not until...
She's still young and alluring so she met another man. They got married, then she got pregnant again, so I had a Lil sister. I was happy that I already had a sister and my mom met a better man than my dad who stand up to her despite having extra baggage which is me. My stepdad treats me not bad too.. but then, I always felt I was left behind somewhere else.
The feeling of being left behind started when I saw that my mom always prioritize my little sister, I know I shouldn't feel jealous because she's younger than me and she needs more attention but I still felt sad because I need attention too.
“Chloe, look out for your sister!”
“Chloe, why Sophia is crying? What did you do?” asked me as if I'd done something wrong with her.
“Chloe, why aren't you taking care of your sister!?” without even noticing I did. It's just that the kid has her tantrums.
Chloe! Chloe! Chloe! Chloe!
I've never heard her say my name in a soft voice since little Sophia is growing up. Every time she cries, she has tantrums, etc it seems that it was my mistake. Mom always tells me I should always protect and understand my sister even if sometimes her satisfaction is getting my things or my toys.
What's even worst is that when we went to some family gatherings, they'll always be like a perfect and happy family without me in the picture. Or if we attended some weddings of their colleagues and friends.
“Chloe, take us some photos,” mom said while handing me her mobile phone.
The three of them smiling brightly in the picture, like a happy and complete family. Mom, stepdad, and Sophia while I was just in front of them captured their best angle of “family picture.” Am I not belong in the family?
Sometimes they went on camping and I was left alone in the house to look it out. Am I just a guard house for them?
That's why I envy my sister Sophia, she has a loving mother and a loving father while I just had a mom and a stepdad on paper. I don't have them emotionally, I felt like I was left behind somewhere in the middle of nowhere. Even if they're so close to me, it feels like they're a million miles apart.
“Chloe, cook the popcorn and bring it here once it is done. We'll watch some movies.” She said in a sweet tone, I don't know if I am included in the we part.
After I was done cooking the Popcorn, I bring it to them and I saw them laughing together. Oh, what a happy family!
I put the popcorn in front of them and they eat happily together without even inviting me to have some bites. I walked out to my room and they didn't even notice.
“Chloe, we'll be out for two days. Just stay here in the house since you always like tapping your phone!” as if they know why I prefer holding my phone instead of to talking to them.
I didn't bother to ask where they going, they don't want me to tag along anyway. So who cares?
One morning while they were still out, I checked my Facebook and saw my mom posting their photos with a caption.
Live the life you have and be contented.
Uploaded in an album “FAMILY.” My tears are falling as I am not in the picture of their so-called family album.
So what was that should I just live my life and be contented? Like really, do they even care about me? Am I not belong to the FAMILY?
Should I just be contented with being left behind?
Maybe the answer is YES. Maybe I'll just be thankful that I have a roof over my head to protect me, that I have some food to eat provided by them. That I was able to go to school. I have better clothes than others, and I'll never expect from now on that I have a family to call on. I was just extra baggage that will always be set aside most of the time, and will just be remembered when needed.
***
This is a fictionalstory inspired by my own experiences t but was made after I saw a random friend posting photos on Facebook with her family, she was a single mom back then. As I was scanning their photos, I didn't see her eldest daughter. I felt sad, as I felt the first child was forgotten that she also needs attention. I've been seeing their photos recently without the first child on them. I don't judge based on what I see without knowing the story.. but I know if I was the eldest daughter I'll felt very sad seeing the beautiful photos of their gateways without me.
This is the saddest part when both parents of a child had their new family, they'll always prioritize their new family and neglect the kids they had first.
While I was writing this, I was looking at my daughter. I don't know what the future awaits us outfit the worst scenario comes, I think I will not gonna marry again just so she won't feel left behind unless she's old enough to handle herself. Gosh, my tears are falling, I know how hard it is to live without parents' attention so I don't want my daughter to experience it.
I hope someone reading this that already has kids or going to have, let's do our best to provide them complete family if not then just never neglect them.
Thank you for reading!
Fiction story:
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Date Published: February 8, 2022
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