"Why are you pretending to be the saint now? Now you care? Where was this concern when you were the one pushing me back then?"
Aunt Naomi shrieked. "What nonsense are you spouting?! Your mother wouldn't even eat meat just so YOU could have some!"
I braced my hands against the ground, trying to stand. My legs refused. I gave up and sat there, pointing straight at Uncle Albert.
"Your whole family—you watched your own sister sweep streets and dig through garbage while you strutted around in designer clothes and drove your fancy car. Did you help her once? YOU'RE the parasites! YOU'RE the ungrateful leeches! And now, seeing me like this?" A bitter smile twisted my lips. "You must be thrilled."
Uncle Albert's eyes went completely red. "I'll tear your mouth apart!"
He charged forward, snatched my backpack from where I'd thrown it on the ground, and swung it at me with full force.
The zipper burst open.
Everything inside flew out in a white cascade, like a sudden downpour of paper rain.
Pill boxes. Rolls of bandages.
All movement stopped.
Someone bent down and picked up a box. "Is this..."
"These are hormone medications!"
Someone else grabbed the document folder. I struggled to snatch it back, but my body was too weak to move.
Inside was a stack of lab reports.
The one on top showed estrogen levels so low they were barely detectable.
The comments section went blank for a few seconds, then exploded:
[Why would a girl be taking estrogen? Is she trans or something?]
[Must've caught something from sleeping around!]
[Mentally ill! Taking all this random crap!]
Mom froze.
Her lips trembled, but no words came out.
Aunt Naomi rushed over and slapped me twice across the face. "What have you been doing out there? Where did these drugs come from?"
My head snapped to the side. My ears rang.
I turned back.
And then I laughed—a wild, liberating laugh.
"That's right. I'm sick."
Every word came out razor-sharp. "The kind of sick where I'll die without medication. Happy now?"
Insults crashed over me from every direction.
"Freak!" "Pervert!" "Disgrace!"
Mom suddenly burst into sobs. She dropped to her knees and grabbed my arm. "It's my fault. Mommy didn't take care of you. Why didn't you tell me you were sick? However much it costs, Mommy will get you treated..."
Uncle Albert yanked her away. "Wake up! She brought this on herself! Born rotten! Cursed her own father to death! Cursed her own mother!"