My Christmas Nightmare: The Family Who Called Me a Parasite

On Christmas Eve, I braved the heavy snow, hurrying home. On the way, I scrolled through a trending post.

[My family's parasite insists on coming for Christmas dinner, but we just want a cozy holiday as a family of three. How do we subtly tell her to get lost?]

I remember thinking, *seriously? In this day and age, people still have such freeloading relatives? They totally deserve to be shunned.*

The top-voted comment was particularly nasty:

[Just change the front door code, pretend you can't hear the knocking. After she freezes for two hours, she'll leave.]

I chuckled, shaking my head at my phone, and texted Brenda, my mom, that I was almost there.

She instantly replied with a warm "Waiting for you," and my heart swelled.

Half an hour later, I stood at my front door and entered the code three times.

The lock's cold voice prompted: [Password incorrect.]

Thinking the lock was broken, I was about to knock when I heard laughter from inside.

Through the crack under the door, I saw Kevin, my brother, snapping photos of a lavish spread of food.

The next second, a new update popped up on my Ins feed from Kevin.

[Christmas dinner without outsiders is true family bonding! Merry Christmas, everyone!]

In that photo, Mom and Dad were smiling more relaxed than I'd ever seen them. On the table, there were only three place settings.

My hand, raised to knock, froze in mid-air. The chill in my heart was far more biting than the wind and snow.

In this house, I paid the mortgage. I covered the utilities. I sent money for living expenses every single month.

Yet, on Christmas Day, I was the superfluous "outsider."

I took a deep breath, trying to suppress the bitter ache welling in my chest.

*Maybe it's a misunderstanding?*

*Maybe Kevins "outsider" referred to some other unwanted guest?*

My hand trembling, I dialed Mom's number.

The ringtone chimed a few times from inside the house, then was abruptly hung up.

Immediately after, a SnapChat message arrived.

**[Olivia, we're watching TV, and it's loud, so we can't hear. How much longer until you arrive? Drive safely, no rush.]**

A lie.

A complete and utter lie.

I was standing right outside the door. From inside, I distinctly heard energetic rock music, not a Christmas special.

And they definitely heard the phone ring; they just deliberately hung up.

My knuckles turned white as I clutched my phone. Still unwilling to give up, I pounded hard on the door.

"Dad! Mom! I'm home! Open the door!"

The music inside abruptly cut out for a second.

Then, Kevins cracking voice rang out.

"Seriously? Why is that freeloader here so early? Such a buzzkill."

Mom's hushed voice followed.

"Shh! Lower your voice! Don't let her hear you."

"Who cares if she hears! She just *had* to come back and annoy everyone on Christmas. She never considers if she's even wanted."

Kevin complained carelessly, but his footsteps were coming toward the door.

A sliver of hope sparked in my chest.

*At least theyll open the door now, right?*

However, the footsteps stopped right at the door.

Through the thin wood, I heard Kevin's sneering laugh.

"Olivia, the password changed. You know how forgetful you are."

"What's the new password?" I asked, struggling to control my anger.

"The new password, huh" Kevin drew out the words. "It's the sum of our family of three's birthdays. You can figure it out."

*A family of three.*

Dad, Mom, Kevin.

Sure enough, there was no place for me in this family.

My mind buzzed.

"Kevin, stop messing around. It's snowing heavily out here, and I'm freezing. Open the door!"

"If you're cold, just jump around a bit to warm up."

Kevin smirked. "Besides, Mom said the lock is a bit finicky; it takes a while to open. Why don't you stand outside and think about why you always have to come back and be annoying during the holidays?"

My eyes widened in disbelief.

*Reflect?*

*What did I do wrong?*

*Because I worked hard all year and just wanted to come home for a warm meal?*

Just then, my phone vibrated again.

The trending post had a new reply.

**OP: [That parasite knocking at the door is annoying, but listening to her shiver outside while we eat king crab inside feels amazing! Thanks for the tips, everyone!]**

The post included a photo taken through a peephole.

In the picture, I was covered in snow, looking disheveled, like a stray dog.

At that moment, all the blood in my veins turned to ice.

*It turned out the person who posted about a "parasite" in the family was my own brother, Kevin!*

*And that "parasite," mocked by the entire internet, with suggestions to freeze her for two hours until she leaves?*

*That was me.*

I stared at the photo, my eyes burning, yet unable to shed a single tear.

*Who was the real parasite here?*

I paid the down payment for this house. I paid the 0-02,000 monthly mortgage.

I covered Kevin's tuition and living expenses for all four years of college.

Even the king crab they were eating right now? I'd specifically ordered it on Amazon and had it shipped home last week!

Now, the real parasites were sitting in *my* house, eating *my* food, trying to freeze *me*, the owner, to death outside?

Fury broke through my reason.

I suddenly lifted my foot and kicked the door hard.

"Kevin! I know you're in there! Open this door!"

"This is *my* house! What right do you have to lock me out?!"

The loud bang startled the neighbors.

Mrs. Davies, from across the hall, poked her head out, looking surprised.

"Oh, isn't that Olivia? Why are you shouting outside on Christmas?"

A flurry of commotion erupted inside the house.

Perhaps worried about looking bad, the door finally opened.

Mom appeared in the doorway, her face grim. There wasn't a hint of concern in her eyes, only reproach.

"What are you shouting about! Are you trying to make sure everyone knows you're back? You're an adult, act like it! No manners!"

I was stiff from the cold, my hand clutching my suitcase trembling.

"Mom, why did the password change? Why didn't you answer my call? What's with Kevin's post?"

Mom's gaze flickered, and she stepped aside.

"Come in first, we'll talk inside. It's Christmas, don't make a scene out here."

I dragged my heavy suitcase into the entryway.

A rush of warm air hit me, mixed with the scent of seafood.

But this warmth didn't belong to me.

In the living room, Kevin was sprawled on the couch, one leg crossed over the other, a crab leg still dangling from his mouth.

Dad sat next to him, picking a succulent piece of crab meat and placing it on Kevin's plate.

On the dining table, there were indeed only three place settings.

My usual spot was piled high with clutter and delivery boxes.

When I entered, Dad didn't even lift an eyelid.

"Now that you're back, shut your mouth. Don't bring your bad vibes into the house."

I froze.

"Dad, I'm part of this family too. Is me coming home for Christmas considered 'bad vibes'?"

Dad slammed his forks onto the table.

"Look at all that snow on you! You're getting water all over the floor! Can't you even clean yourself up?"

"And kicking the door the moment you arrive! What kind of behavior is that? Is this what you learned in the big city?"

I looked down at myself.

My puffer coat was soaked with melted snow, my shoes completely wet.

Kevin, meanwhile, was wearing a brand-new Adidas tracksuitthe Christmas gift he'd cried and begged me for last month.

Over three hundred dollars.

I gritted my teeth and pushed my suitcase aside.

"Where are my slippers?"

The shoe cabinet was empty. My pink fluffy slippers were gone.

Mom emerged from the kitchen, carrying a steaming plate of dumplings.

"Oh, those old slippers were worn out. I threw them away a couple of days ago. Haven't had time to buy new ones. Just use those shoe covers for now."

She pointed her chin towards a blue plastic shoe cover nearby.

They were for the plumber.

Kevin burst out laughing.

"Mom, look at her in those blue shoe covers! Doesn't she look like she just stepped out of surgery?"

"Hahahaha, Olivia, your outfit is so unique. Want me to take a picture for Ins?"

With that, he actually raised his phone to snap a photo of me.

I rushed over and slapped his phone out of his hand.

"Kevin! Haven't you had enough?!"

The phone landed on the carpet, unbroken.

But Kevin reacted as if he'd suffered a massive injustice, letting out a wail.

"Dad! Mom! Look at her! She hits me the moment she comes home! And she tried to smash my phone!"

Dad abruptly stood up, grabbing the ashtray from the table and hurling it at me.

"You damn brat! You're out of control!"

The ashtray grazed my ear, smashing into the mirror in the entryway.

With a *CRASH*, the mirror shattered, glass shards flying, one slicing my cheek.

A sharp sting. I touched it, and my fingertips came away stained with blood.

The living room fell silent.

Dad seemed surprised that he'd actually hit me. He paused, then defiantly yelled again.

"What are you looking at! It's your own fault for not dodging! Useless!"

Mom gasped and rushed over, not to check my wound, but to frantically pick up the phone from the floor.

"Oh no, this is the latest model! It cost over a thousand dollars! If it's broken, you couldn't pay for it even if we sold you!"

I stood amidst the shattered mess, watching this absurd scene unfold.

My face was bleeding, and my heart was bleeding.

"Mom, that's my face. I'm hurt."

I pointed to the bloodstain on my cheek, my voice hoarse.

Mom glanced up at me, then impatiently waved her hand.

"What's the big deal about a scratch? Just put a band-aid on it! Stop being so dramatic!"

"If Kevin's phone is broken, that's real money! How much is your ugly face even worth?"

Kevin got his phone back, checked it, and confirmed it wasn't broken. Then, triumphantly, he made a mocking face at me.

"Exactly, you're already ugly, a broken face just means you can get plastic surgery. Maybe then someone will actually marry you."

"And if you hurt me, don't you think my millions of followers will come for you?"

Millions of followers?

I scoffed.

"Those followers of yours, aren't they all from talking trash about having a 'crazy older sister'?"

"What? Are you done playing innocent now that you're sucking blood from the source?"

Kevin's face changed.

"You snooped through my phone? You invaded my privacy!"

"You locked your sister out and posted it online for clout. Is that 'privacy'?"

I advanced toward the dining table, step by step.

The plate of king crab, barely touched, its red shell gleamed mockingly under the light.

I reached out and flipped the table over.

"Since I'm a parasite, since I'm an outsider, then nobody gets to eat this meal!"

A *CRASH* and clatter.

Plates, forks, king crab, dumplingseverything crashed to the floor, sauce splattering everywhere.

That lavish Christmas dinner instantly became trash.

"Ah! My king crab!"

Kevin shrieked as if he'd been physically wounded.

Mom screamed and rushed over, shoving me.

"Are you insane! Olivia! Have you lost your mind?!"

"That's money! You wasteful brat! If you don't want to eat, then leave! Why flip the table?!"

Dad's face was livid with rage. He grabbed the nearby solid wood chair, ready to throw it at me.

"I'll kill you today, you ungrateful daughter!"

I dodged, and the chair slammed onto the floor with a dull thud.

"Go ahead! If you have the guts, kill me!"

My eyes red-rimmed, I stared at them intently.

"Kill me, and see who pays your mortgage after this! Who buys Kevin designer brands! Who takes care of you in your old age!"

That sentence seemed to hit their Achilles' heel.

Dad's raised hand froze in mid-air.

Mom also stopped her cursing, her eyes flickering.

Kevin, however, scrambled up from the floor and pointed his finger at my nose.

"Don't threaten us with the mortgage! This house is in Dad's name! What does it have to do with you?!"

"Besides, you make so much money, what's wrong with spending a little on family? You *owe* us!"

"Mom and Dad raised you, isn't it your duty to give back?"

*I owe them?*

From childhood, the best food went to Kevin, new clothes went to Kevin.

I wore my cousin's hand-me-downs and ate leftovers.

I earned my college tuition by working part-time, and my living expenses from odd jobs.

After graduation, I worked my butt off. As soon as my paycheck arrived each month, more than half of it went to them.

For this house, I drained three years of savings and took out online loans just to scrape together the down payment.

All because Mom said Kevin needed a house for his wedding, or his girlfriend's family wouldn't agree.

To get my name added to the property deed, they made a huge scene, eventually forcing me to sign an agreement.

The agreement stated that although the house was in Dad's name, I would pay the mortgage. Once Kevin got married, half the house would be transferred to me.

Now it was clear this was a complete and utter scam.