Dizziness overtook me. When I opened my eyes, I was in a speeding car. Through the window, I saw my own reflection—no, not mine. Hers.
The woman holding me was still Rosemary, the same trafficker as before. The old woman driving, Sally, was their leader.
I clung to the seat, recalling my previous life.
For ten years, as I suffered in captivity, one question haunted me. Why?
Why did my sister do this to me? Why did she betray me?
I never got to ask her.
Because when I was finally found, she took back her body before I could even speak.
She whispered in my ear, her voice cold, accusing.
"Sister, you watched me die when I was taken. You deserve everything that happened to you."
"You were indifferent, so now you must pay the price."
But I had never been indifferent. I had begged her not to go with the traffickers. I had pleaded.
She ignored me. She only wanted the candied haws.
Yet, in the end, she blamed me for "watching her die."
And after reclaiming her body, she played the victim, crying in our parents’ arms. "She caused it! She wanted me gone!"
At first, they didn’t believe her.
Until she led them to my bed.
Under my pillow, they found a diary—one she had written, mimicking my handwriting.
[I saw the traffickers take my sister that day, but I pretended not to. I didn’t want to share my parents' love. Their love and money should only belong to me.]
And just like that, she erased me.
For ten years, she lived as me, basking in love and comfort.
But this time…
I was the one who had returned.
And I wouldn’t make the same mistake again.
They had planned this long ago. The moment I was found, they would use their final exchange opportunity to frame me for everything.
And my so-called parents? They believed every word. As punishment, they planned to sell me to a blind cripple in the mountains.
For ten years, I endured endless suffering in my sister’s place, believing that once I was rescued, my parents would make it up to me with love. But instead, all I got was a betrayal more cruel than I ever imagined.
That night, I set fire to everything, choosing to die with them.
Clenching my fists, I swore to myself—this time, they would all pay the price.
As I looked out the car window, the familiar scenery of Willow Creek came into view. I let out a quiet breath of relief.
Good. They still chose to sell me to the same place.