When Cancer Became My Evidence

I knew from a young age that our family didnt have money.

Getting sick cost money, so I wasnt even allowed to get sick.

When I was four, I ran a high fever. Mom grabbed me and stuffed me into the freezer.

When she pulled me out, I was still conscious, blinking up at her.

My face was freezing. My tears had frozen solid.

Mom glanced at me and said irritably, Youre just faking it to skip school. See? You didnt die.

After that day, I kept every discomfort to myself.

I thought Mom was rightI must have been faking it.

Otherwise, why did every ache and pain go away without medicine or shots?

Life went on like this, until the school-organized medical checkup in middle school.

I ran home with the cancer diagnosis in my hand, excited. Mom! I have cancer!

This time, with proof from a doctor, Mom wouldnt think I was lying.

Mom, Im not lying this time.

I ran home holding the diagnosis, my emotions a mix of excitement and anxiety.

The doctor said I had three months left at most. I didnt want to die yet.

But I couldnt help hoping that during those three months, Mom and Dad might finally care for me.

Whenever my brother got sick, the whole family would crowd around him.

I wasnt greedy. Id be satisfied if someone would just take me to the hospital.

I pushed the door open, holding the white paper high, afraid theyd miss it.

Mom! Dad! I have cancer!

The room went silent for two seconds. Then hurried footsteps approached, along with Moms signature lavender perfume.

I lowered the paper and opened my arms, ready for her embrace.

Rip.

Mom snatched the diagnosis from me and tore it to shreds.

Before I could process what was happening, a sharp sting spread across my cheek.

I didnt get her embrace. I got her slap.

Your brother is sleeping! Dont you know that? And you make up some ridiculous lie!

Dad put down his newspaper and walked over.

Chloe, youre old enough to be sensible. Everyone knows youre healthy.

Youve never even had a cold. If youre going to lie, at least make it believable.

I covered my face and pointed at the shredded diagnosis in the trash.

But the doctor said

Mom and Dad had already turned away, discussing my brothers meal plan.

Felix has lost weight again. That seven-hundred-dollar monthly meal plan clearly isnt nutritious enough.

Dad looked worried too.

But the next tier costs fifteen hundred. We really cant afford that.

Mom suddenly turned to me.

The hospital is recruiting volunteers for a new drug trial. They specifically need healthy subjects. It pays fifty thousand per person.

I was going to volunteer myself, but were both too busy with work

I understood what Mom was implying. Hope flickered in my chest.

If they needed to verify the volunteers health, then Mom and Dad would finally find out I wasnt lying.

Mom, let me be the volunteer.

Dad immediately chimed in.

Youre so considerate of your brother. You know Felix has always been frail. As his older sister, you need to be understanding.

Mom gave a cold laugh.

Trying to earn points after admitting you lied? Fine, Ill give you this chance.

She pulled a red, round pill from her pocket and gestured for me to swallow it.

Lucky I work at the hospital. Saves us all that annoying paperwork.

I didnt take it. I looked closely at the pill.

Mom dont I need a checkup first?

Mom frowned.

What checkup? Youre always thinking about spending money. If youre not healthy, nobody is.

Dad glanced at my brothera sturdy boycoughed once, took the pill from Mom, and grabbed the water glass from the table.

Ignoring my resistance, he shoved it into my mouth.

Why waste words on a kid? Felix just coughed. Go check if hes catching a cold.

I choked, unable to speak.

Mom pulled me into my room and locked the door.

I already disinfected your room. Just stay put.

The observation period is three days. After that, youll come to the hospital with me. If you behave, Ill get you takeout.

My head was throbbing. I wanted to tell Mom I didnt feel well, but the words wouldnt come out.

I pounded on the door, forcing out a faint sound through gritted teeth.

Mom, Dad, please help me

But then came a loud bang as someone kicked the door from the other side. Dads last bit of patience was gone.

You drained all the nutrients from your mother in the wombthats why your brothers health is so bad now.

And you dare complain? You clearly dont see what youve done wrong!

Mom gasped. I thought theyd finally found the diagnosis in the trash.

Honey! Felixs temperature is ninety-nine point five. Any higher and hell have a fever.

Take him to the hospital, quick!

Dad ignored my muffled cries from behind the door. Keys jingled.

I heard the front door slam shut. I touched my facetwo streaks of blood were running from my eyes.

Mom, Dad, it hurts so much.

I slowly lost consciousness. The piercing pain gradually faded.

When I woke, I was floating in midair.

I passed through the door easily. GoodMom and Dad finally let me out.

I sat properly at the dining table. Id apologize and explain later.

I didnt know how long had passed before Mom and Dad came in carrying a large cream cake.

It smelled so good. I couldnt help swallowing.

Usually I only got a bite of cake on my brothers birthday. I didnt expect to get a whole cake just for having cancer.

Mom looked impatiently toward the door.

Chloe! Come out and have cake.

Lucky your brother didnt get sick from your scare, or youd be getting the belt.

I stared at them in shock.

Mom, Dad, Im right in front of you. Im sitting right here at the table.

I stood and walked toward them to hug them, but I passed right through.

They kept staring at the bedroom door. After ten seconds, Mom pounded on it hard.

Now youre ignoring us? Your brother ended up in the hospital because of you, and I didnt even blame youhow dare you throw a tantrum!

I was confused. I walked back and forth through them.

I shouted right in their ears.

Mom! Dad! Im right here! Im not throwing a tantrum!

But no one responded. Dad threw my slice of cake straight into the trash.

This is what happens when you spoil her. Lets teach her a lesson. Three days without food wont kill her.

I realized what had happened and passed through the bedroom door.

A crumpled figure lay curled by the door. Scratch marks from my fingertips still marked the wood.

So ugly no wonder Mom and Dad never liked me.

I was already dead.

I didnt know how to feel. Was I sad? It didnt seem like deep sadness.

Just regret that the three months of care Id hoped for hadnt even lasted one day.

But it was okay. At least now I could stay by Mom and Dads side without worry.

Mom noticed the diagnosis paper smeared with cake. She frowned and picked it up with her fingers.

Honey, this diagnosis looks real

Dad glanced at it and scoffed.

Babe, youre a nursehow can you not tell? AI is so advanced now, it can forge documents that look this authentic. If you dont believe me, Ill ask Chloe.

He walked to my bedroom door and kicked it a few times.

You forged this, didnt you? Tell the truth and youll get food tomorrow.

I shook my head over and over in midair, fighting the burning in my eyes.

Dad, I didnt forge it. Thats a real diagnosis from the doctor.

Only my brothers mocking laughter answered him.

See? Shes not saying anythingthat means shes admitting it.

Never thought the little brat learned to lie so young. If only she were half as well-behaved as me.

Im not afraid to speakI cant. I rushed into the room and hugged my stiff corpse tightly.

So cold.

Maybe because Id never ignored Mom and Dad before, after checking on my brother for a while, they came back to my door.

Chloe, we need to record your physical condition now. Dont you dare play dead with me!

Im not playing dead, Mom. I really am dead.

Dad took a deep breath.

I think you need a beating.

I watched him walk toward the cat bed in the hall, a sense of dread rising in my chest.

Dad, no

The tall man grabbed Whiskers from the cat bed Id built and carried him to my door.

If you dont speak up, Ill make your cat pay!

I lunged forward trying to grab my cat. He was the only one in the house who ever listened to me.

But I couldnt catch him.

Dad! I am speaking! Please put the cat down!

I dont have cancer! I lied about everything!

Mom was getting impatient. She pinched the cats neck hard.

The normally gentle cats fur stood on end instantly. It began shrieking in pain.

My mouth hung open. My soul couldnt shed tears, only tremble. I screamed until my voice gave out.

No!

But it was too late. The cat struggled so violently that Dad threw it.

Hed forgotten that right outside my door was the apartment balcony.

My mind went blank. A thud. Blood sprayed everywhere.

Mom tried to stop him but it was too late. Seeing people gathering below, she clicked her tongue.

Someones definitely going to ask how the cat died. We cant let this ruin our reputation.

Well say Chloe accidentally dropped it. Make her come out and apologize.

As soon as she finished speaking, Dad snapped out of his panic and grabbed my door handle.

This is all because you insisted on sulking! The cat dying is your own fault!

I stared at the cats body below, too numb to speak. But heaven seemed to take pity on me.

The cats soul floated up beside me. Only then did I avoid collapsing completely.

The soft, furry sensation was just like when it was alive. I brought it back into the room with me.

Were Mom and Dad finally going to discover me? What would their reaction be?

Ring, ring, ring!

Dads phone suddenly rang. A police officers voice came from the other end.

We caught Dylan. Do you want to come to the station to press charges?

Hearing that name, my grief was instantly replaced by terror.

That man lurking in the alley, asking me for directions.

Hed taken advantage of my distraction to drag me into the alley and grope every part of my body.

Hed rubbed his disgusting thing back and forth in front of me.

When I got home, I scrubbed my body frantically.

After Mom found out, she went straight to the police station that night to file a report. From that day on, she drove me to and from school.

But the predator was hard to catchuntil today.

Dad and Mom exchanged glances, then Dad put on a show of resolve.

You know what? That bastards father came to me. Said hed give me two hundred thousand to drop the whole thing.

Mom glanced at the closed bedroom door.

That would cover Felixs meal plan for next year. After all, what happened to Chloe cant be undone. As long as that pervert learns his lesson

And look at Chloe now with her weird attitude and sulking. She needs to learn a lesson too.

I sat in the back seat with my cat as my parents drove to the police station. The face from my nightmares sat there smugly with his legs crossed.

He looked at my parents with contempt. His father was even more disdainful as he shook my dads outstretched hand.

Good man, lets talk privately.

I heard Dad accept the two hundred thousand hush money with fawning agreement. It sounded like my heart breaking.

The pervert swaggered out of the police station. I wanted to pounce on him, eat his flesh, drink his blood.

But my parents had already sold me out. I could never get revenge.

On the drive home, Mom and Dad were silent. What were they thinking?

Honey, I still dont think we should take this money

Dad gripped the steering wheel tighter and tighter, as if afraid he might change his mind.

I know youre worried about Chloe being upset. We just wont tell her, right?

Chloe has always been so healthy. Felix is sickly and it breaks my heart watching him suffer. Think of this as the last thing Chloe does for her brother.

When we get home, well let her out and take her somewhere fun to relax. She wont have to do that trial either.

I sat in the back seat, my heart dead as ash.

Dad, dont bother. Im already dead. I cant go anywhere.

Moms phone rang. It was my teacher calling.

Hello, what is it? Weve been excusing Chloes absences these past few days, so she hasnt been at school.

I understand this is a difficult time for you as parents, but you absolutely cannot show it in front of the child

Mom interrupted her.

What are you talking about? What difficult time?

Huh? Chloe didnt show you the cancer diagnosis? Havent you been taking Chloe for checkups these past few days?