Brother, I’ll Grant Your New Year’s Wish

When a gentle new sister appeared in our home, I saw my brother smile for the first time in ages. He said she would live with us and take care of me like he did.

I grabbed a greeting card and ran over, asking if she knew my brothers New Years wish.

She knelt, patted my head, and smiled. His biggest wish is for you to disappear from this world.

Suddenly, memories rushed backmy parents lying in blood, my brothers broken vow at their grave, the dishes Id smashed, his endless tears.

After the tragedy, I became the idiot everyone whispered about. Our money drained fast because of my illness.

Brother studied by day, worked at night. Hed come home exhausted to a house Id trashed. Id throw filth at him, screaming that he wanted to hurt me. He never got angry, just held me with red eyes, repeating, Im your brother.

Later, my illness grew worse. He had to take me everywhere. One day, I ruined yet another job hed finally found. He crouched on the floor, back to me, shoulders shaking.

Celeste, why dont you just die? His voice broke. Please stop tormenting me.

That sentence unlocked my memory. I walked over, wiped his face with my sleeve, and whispered, Brother, dont cry. He turned and hugged me tight, sobbing apologies.

But now I seethose moments of clarity, his occasional tenderness, were just the calm before the storm.

Some wishes were never just words.

I stared blankly at my sister, and it took a long time for a sentence to tumble out of my mouth: Die, what is die?

My sister scoffed, saying mockingly, You really are an idiot, you dont even know what dying is. She knelt down and patiently explained to me, Die is like your mom and dad, gone, no longer existing.

I backed away three steps in terror, shaking my head. Brother says, dont want Celeste to die.

My sister stood up, looking down at me. Your brother has changed his mind. He told me his wish is for you to disappear.

So, Celeste, go die quickly. Its good for your brother and good for me.

I stood rooted to the spot, clutching the greeting card in my hands, trying hard to understand what my sister said.

When I came to, I saw the sliced fruit scattered all over the table, and the trash from the bin had spilled out.

No, the house is so messy, Brother will be angry. So, I knelt down, wanting to put the trash back in the bin.

There was a noise outside. The front door opened. Brother was home. I flashed him a smile, about to say that Celeste was very good today, when I saw my sister run crying to him, throwing herself into his embrace.

She pointed at the trash on the floor and said, I really cant handle your sister anymore. I fed her fruit, and not only did she refuse to eat it, but she also threw things everywhere!

A hint of an apologetic smile appeared on Brothers face. He stroked my sisters head and said, Youve worked hard, Honey. Sigh The doctor said my sisters condition was improving, and I didnt expect her to start again after just a few days.

My mouth slightly agape, I instinctively wanted to refute, but my mind couldnt form a complete sentence. I could only stammer, Celeste, didnt

My sister glanced at me, then complained to Brother again, Shes even lying now.

Brother sighed, knelt down, and said to me, Celeste, lying is wrong.

And, didnt Brother tell you to listen to your sister at home? Why didnt you listen?

I was bewildered. But sister told me to die. Brother, do I really have to listen to my sister?

My already damaged CPU was overheating. My head swam, and I collapsed softly into Brothers arms.

My sister leaned over and asked, Can your sister really recover?

Brother held me tighter, stating with certainty, Yes, even if theres only a one in ten thousand chance, I will cure my sister!

Brother didnt notice the dark shadow that flickered in my sisters eyes. But soon, she said softly, Mmm, you go to work. Ill help you take care of your sister.

Brothers eyes welled up with emotion, and my nightmare truly began.

One day, she sat on the sofa watching TV, calling me over to massage her legs. I clumsily massaged her, but she kicked me away.

Are you an idiot? You cant even massage legs?

I was kicked several feet away, crying out in pain. My sister, however, complained to my brother when he returned, saying I wasnt listening again. Brother could only repeatedly tell me to listen to my sister. I choked back sobs, reaching out to hug him like he used to, but Brother slapped my hand away, saying firmly:

Celeste, say it, I will listen to my sister.

I cried, trembling, mumbling indistinctly, Brother says, I have to, listen to my sister

At this, my sister hugged me tenderly and told my brother, Vincent, your sister is still a child. Dont be so harsh. Its fine if I suffer a little. Brother was so touched that he didnt notice my lips were white with fear in my sisters embrace.

My sister saw that my brother fully believed her. From then on, whenever my brother wasnt around, my sister became a different person. She would secretly pinch the inside of my arm. I instinctively wanted to pull my hand back, but then I heard my sister say, Celeste, your brother told you to listen to your sister, didnt he?

Hold out your hand!

So, I cried while extending my arm to my sister. She seemed to hate me terribly, pinching with all her might each time. I was almost crying myself unconscious when my brother arrived. My sister quickly pulled down my sleeve and turned to throw herself into my brothers arms. She transformed herself into a victim in just one second.

Vincent, your sister is truly impossible. She wont listen at all!

One day, a spark ignited in my mind. I rolled up my sleeve and showed my bruises to my brother. He paused. My sister quickly said apologetically, Its my fault for not watching Celeste properly.

You know, this child still cant walk steadily. She bumps herself and gets bruises everywhere in no time.

Brother remembered that almost every time he opened the door, he would see me sitting on the ground, crying in pain. The next day, Brother wrapped all the furniture in the house with foam padding. My sister gritted her teeth and said to me, Celeste, your brother is truly good to you.

I nodded and said, Brother, is good to Celeste, doesnt want Celeste to die.

My sister let out three cold laughs, then casually picked up a hanger and swung it at me, hitting me on the head. I cried out in pain, calling for Brother. But my sister said, Your brothers away on a business trip. He wont be back for half a month.

You little brat, you even want to tattle on me to your brother!

She pinched my chin with her left hand and slapped me hard with her right, leaving my face swollen. I trembled uncontrollably, crying, but she became more and more excited with each blow, until someone knocked on the door. She frantically gagged me and shoved me under the covers, then went to open the door.

It was the neighbor, Mrs. Davies. She asked, Whats going on? Celeste is crying so hard.

My sister forced a weak smile and said, Shes having another episode. She keeps saying Im the murderer of her parents, and I cant calm her down. Mrs. Davies looked a little sympathetic, took out some small cookies, and said, These siblings have it tough. I made some cookies, go try to comfort Celeste. Mrs. Davies made to enter. My sister immediately blocked her, saying, No need, Mrs. Davies. Ill take care of Celeste.

Taking the cookies from Mrs. Davies, my sister closed and locked the door. She sat on the sofa, legs crossed, eating the cookies Mrs. Davies had given me, saying as she ate, Youd better be good these next few days and not cause me any trouble. After that, she took a rope, tied me up at home, and left.

I wanted to go to the bathroom, but I couldnt reach it. The rope chafed my neck; it hurt so much. I couldnt hold it anymore and made a mess on the floor.

When she came back, she kicked me twice. Then she took a picture of the mess and sent it to my brother, crying, What am I going to do, Vincent? I cant take it anymore. I looked away for a second, and she made a mess all over the floor. Is your sister deliberately trying to get at me?

Brother immediately replied, How could this happen? Sweetheart, Ill send you money to hire a cleaner. Youve really had it tough. Brother sent many apologetic emojis.

After the cleaner finished and left, my sister walked over with a dark expression and slapped me. Useless thing! Cant even control your own waste! After venting, she looked at me lying on the floor like a dead fish and said coldly, If you dare to tattle on me to your brother again, Ill keep hitting you!

To be honest with you, all your brothers previous girlfriends left him because of you.

Only I am willing to accept you.

How much money has your brother spent to cure your illness?

Dont you think youre a burden?

Celeste, if you truly love your brother, you should be sensible and stop hindering your brothers bright future.

I took my sisters words to heart. I really was a burden.

When Brother returned from his business trip, he brought my sister a gold necklace. My sister beamed, Gold is so expensive now, you really bought it for me Brother said it wasnt easy for my sister to take care of me, and he would buy her gold jewelry every month from now on. My sister smiled even more happily.

But suddenly, my sisters smile froze. Because Brother took a gold bracelet out of his bag. It was more expensive than my sisters gold necklace. When Brother put the bracelet on my wrist, he said, Celeste, Happy New Year. Brother wishes you peace and happiness for life.

My sister said somewhat stiffly, Vincent, arent you afraid of the idiot, no, your sister, losing the bracelet? I got a little angry, and for the first time, I talked back to my sister: No, Celeste wont be that careless.

Hearing my words, Brother happily grabbed my sisters hand and said, Did you hear that? Celeste said such a long sentence for the first time!

Shes definitely going to recover.

Brother embraced me in surprise, then noticed the still unhealed injury on my neck, asking confusedly, Celeste, how did you get hurt? I wanted to tell Brother that my sister bullied me. But before I could speak, Brothers attention was drawn to the cut on my sisters finger.

Its all your sisters fault for wanting an apple, causing me to accidentally cut my hand.

She was lying She clearly hurt her hand when she was out playing. I opened my mouth and said, It wasnt it wasnt because of me. But no one heard what I said.

Thankfully, Brother would have many days off after this business trip. I could finally avoid being beaten by my sister, and not have to eat food off the floor like a dog, or be videotaped and laughed at by my sister. But I also knew Brother wouldnt stay with me forever.

Suddenly, I remembered what Mom used to tell me: Celeste, if anyone bullies you, you must, must tell your family. Yes, I should listen to Mom and tell Brother that my sister bullied me. But when my sister was around, I never had a chance to talk to Brother. The moment I appeared, my sister would stare chillingly at my gold bracelet, her expression terrifying. I could only cover my bracelet, hide in my room, and secretly listen to the sounds outside.

Finally, one day, my sister received Brothers transfer and left. Hearing the front door close, I quickly ran out and pulled on Brothers sleeve, saying, Sister, bad, bully me. Brother, of course, didnt believe me. After all, I used to say Brother was a bad guy. Brother knelt down and told me, Celeste, if you wrongly accuse someone like this, your sister will be sad.

I shook my head, very earnestly saying, Not wrong. I ran to the utility room, found the rope my sister used to tie me up, put it around my own neck. Then I placed the rope by the table leg, lay on the floor, and looked up at Brother, saying, Sister made me eat like this.

She tied me, here.

I need to go to the bathroom, cant walk there, my neck hurts.

I pointed to the wound on my neck, explaining haltingly. Brothers eyes grew increasingly serious. He rolled up my sleeve and saw that even with all the furniture padded, I had more bruises than last time.

Sister hit you? he asked. I nodded. Brother said, I see.

That day, I hid in my room. I heard Brother and my sister arguing for the first time outside.

You believe what an idiot says? My sisters voice was even louder than Brothers. She shrieked hysterically, Your sister never liked me, she thinks I stole your love, and you actually believe her?

I must have been blind to choose you. My parents both said I wouldnt be happy with you, yet I broke ties with them, came here to help you take care of your sister, and now you suspect me My sister cried so heartbreakingly that I felt a bit confused looking at my own wounds.

Could it be that I really just bumped myself?