The Invisible Daughter's Sweet Escape

On the first day of summer break, my parents found me another job.

A supermarket clerk. The pay is decent, and you can build some real-world experience.

From my freshman to senior year of college, they had repeated this exact phrase for four years.

During my freshman year, they packed me off to work in a factory while they took Lily to Hawaii.

During my sophomore year, they sent me to work at a convenience store while they paid for Lily's driving lessons.

During my junior year, they made me work as a janitor while they jetted off to the Maldives with Lily.

So, where were they going this year?

"Tokyo, Japan."

My older brother, Logan, pushed the door open, smiling as he handed me a pair of sneakers.

"I bought these specifically for you. You can stand for ten hours in them easily."

"I'm paying for the trip this year," Logan added. "Lily is still young. It's the perfect time for her to see the world."

Lily smiled sweetly, squealing as she threw her arms around his neck.

"Logan, you're the best! I knew you guys loved me the most."

I looked at my parents. They quickly avoided my gaze.

Nobody cared how I felt, even though I was only a year older than Lily.

I suddenly smiled, knelt down, and put on the shoes. They were lightweight.

Light enough for me to run far away from this family.

My mother was packing Lily's suitcase when she suddenly remembered something. She looked up and called out to Logan:

"Logan, Lily is starting her senior year next year. You have to keep an eye out and help her find a good job."

"The job market is brutal for college grads right now. Good openings are hard to find. You..."

She stopped mid-sentence.

She seemed to suddenly realize there was another daughter in the room who was actually graduating this semester.

Logan didn't notice the tension at all.

"Don't worry. I've already pulled some strings. The moment Lily graduates, she can start at a major corporation."

He paused, finally remembering my existence. He asked, purely out of politeness:

"Chloe, do you need any help?"

"No."

I had already found a job. An overseas posting to Mexico.

I'd be leaving in a few days, as soon as my college diploma arrived.

Logan gave a brief nod and dropped the subject.

My father, sensing the awkward silence, tried to smooth things over with a chuckle.

"Chloe has always been independent. We never have to worry about her."

My hand froze on my shoelaces.

I wasn't independent by choice. I just knew that if I didn't do everything myself, nobody would help me.

Logan was the firstborn, enjoying six years of undivided attention.

Lily was the baby of the family, the little princess pampered by our parents.

Then there was me. Wedged in the middle, practically invisible.

Lily set down her soda and ran over, grabbing my arm.

"Is there anything you want? I can bring you back a souvenir!"

Her expression was sincere, but there was a flicker of guilt in her eyes. So, she did realize how unfair this was.

But I knew better.

She would forget.

Just like on every other trip, she would remember the silk scarf our mother wanted, and the tie our father needed.

She would even hunt down vintage cameras for Logan.

But she would never remember me.

That flash of guilt on her face vanished in an instant.

I was used to it.

I gave her a gentle smile.

"Just bring back whatever you find."

My mother stopped packing and smiled at me.

"Chloe, look how sweet Lily is to you."

"Aren't you going to show some appreciation if she's bringing you back a gift?"

My father seemed to be waiting for this. He chimed in smoothly.

"Tell you what. Why don't you give Lily your first month's salary from the supermarket as pocket money?"

"Oh, no, it's fine," Lily said, brushing it off with a casual wave.

Logan patted her head.

"Don't be too polite. Just focus on having fun."

With just a few sentences, they decided how my hard-earned money would be spent. They didn't even bother to ask my opinion.

It had been like this every year since my freshman year.

Last year, after paying my tuition, I was completely broke.

I asked Lily to lend me fifty dollars for food. Five minutes after she sent me the money...

Both my mother and Logan called me.

"You're a grown adult! How could you take Lily's money?"

"If you're short on cash, ask us. Why are you taking advantage of Lily?"

But an hour before that, I had texted my mother asking for help, and she had completely ignored me.

Meanwhile, she replied to Lily's texts within seconds.

My phone buzzed. I took my shoes off and went to my bedroom.

It was an email from the company.

"The paperwork is complete. We will meet in New York next Monday for orientation."

"Understood."

Right after I sent the reply, there was a knock on my door.

Lily pushed the door open and walked straight to my suitcase.

"My suitcase is so ugly. Can I borrow yours for the trip?"

"No, I need it."

"For what? You're not going anywhere."

I stayed silent.

She didn't want my suitcase because it looked nice. She wanted it because she didn't care about ruining it.

No matter how carefully I kept my things, they always came back scratched and dented whenever she borrowed them.

The air in the room grew heavy. She stood there, her face darkening as she stared at me.

Seeing that I wasn't backing down, she stormed out and slammed the door.

I silently counted down in my head.

"Five, four, three, two... one."

Bang! The door was flung open again.

"Chloe Miller."

My parents stood at the door, with Logan right behind them.

"Lily just wants to borrow your suitcase. Why are you being so selfish?"

"You won't even share a simple thing. Are we not a family?"

"I need it."

This time, I didn't back down.

"Forget it. If she doesn't want to lend it, then don't force her," Lily sniffled from behind them, looking incredibly hurt.

My parents immediately hugged her, whispering comforting words.

Logan stared at me, his eyes narrowing. Suddenly, he walked back to his room.

He dragged out a sky-blue suitcase.

"Lily, use this one."

My grip on the doorknob tightened. That suitcase was a gift I had saved up to buy for Logan.

Lily knew exactly what it was. She shot me a deliberate, mocking look.

"I don't know, Logan... Chloe might get upset."

Logan's face was completely blank. He was doing this on purpose. Just as he was about to speak...

I cut in.

"It's fine. It's his now. He can do whatever he wants with it."

The room fell dead silent.

Logan snapped his head to look at me, his brows furrowing.

But he didn't say another word. He just took Lily and left.

At dinner, nobody called me. When I finally walked out, they were deep in a lively discussion.

"Warm gray is so elegant and cozy. I vote for warm gray for the living room paint," my mother said.

Logan chimed in naturally.

"Actually, off-white fits modern aesthetics better. It's minimalist and chic."

Lily grabbed a piece of chicken and giggled.

"I don't care how you guys decorate the rest of the house, but I get full control over my bedroom!"

My father didn't join the debate, happily eating his food. But then his eyes caught me standing there.

He coughed loudly.

Their conversation died instantly.

So, they bought a new house, and I was the only one who didn't know.

I sat down and took a bite of the closest dish. It felt like swallowing needles.

My parents exchanged a look, and my mother cleared her throat.

"Chloe, we bought a new place. The rooms are already assigned, but you should go check it out when you have time."

I slowly swallowed my food and asked in a raspy voice:

"When did you buy it?"

"Six months ago. We just... didn't find the right time to tell you."

Whether they didn't have the time or just didn't want to tell me, I could easily tell the difference.

I gave a quiet nod and suddenly asked:

"What's the passcode?"

"971604."

971604.

The combination of Logan and Lily's birthdays.

I looked up at her, my lips trembling slightly.

"When is my birthday?"

My mother froze, her expression turning defensive.

"What's wrong with you? Did you seriously forget your own birthday?"

My father laughed, thinking I was joking.

"You were born in the winter. You actually came early. It was snowing heavily that day, and your mother slipped. She almost didn't make it through labor. She suffered so much to bring you into this world. She always says you were born to collect a debt from her."

My mother coughed, looking uncomfortable, and avoided my eyes.

"Why bring that up now?"

I lowered my head, my hands shaking uncontrollably under the table.

A few minutes later, Logan and Lily finished eating. They piled their dirty dishes on the table and retreated to their rooms.

After my father left the table, my mother stood up too.

"Chloe, family rule: whoever finishes last does the dishes."

With that, she turned and left.

The dining table was cluttered with scraps and dirty plates.

I was always the slowest.

Because during dinner, no one ever bothered to call me to the table.

My mother would call Logan; my father would call Lily.

By the time I came out, the food was mostly gone.

And so, the dishes were always my job.

While I was cleaning up the kitchen, my grandparents called.

"I heard from Logan that you guys are taking Lily to Japan?" My grandmother's voice came through the speaker.

"Yes! Is there anything you want us to bring back?" my mother answered happily.

My grandmother laughed and said she didn't need anything.

"Isn't Chloe going?"

Without a second thought, my mother replied:

"Oh, no, she's not. She wants to work to get some life experience."

"That girl..." My grandfather sighed on the line but didn't push further.

Because for the last four years of college, my parents had always given the exact same excuses.

"Isn't Chloe coming to the amusement park?"

"No, she wants to stay home and study."

"Isn't Chloe skiing with you guys?"

"No, she hates sports."

"Isn't Chloe getting her portraits taken?"

"She has a breakout right now; she doesn't want to take photos."

...

In their narrative, I was a dull bookworm, an antisocial ghost, a fool who only cared about working hard.

That way, no one could call them out on their unfairness---because "that's just how Chloe is."

The doorbell rang.

I put the last plate on the drying rack, wiped a tear from the corner of my eye, and walked to the front door.

"Hi, delivery. Sign here, please."

It was my college diploma.

A sudden weight lifted from my chest. It meant I could finally leave.

"What's that?"

Logan's voice sounded from behind me.

He was holding a cup of coffee, his hands in his pockets, watching the faint smile on my lips.

"My diploma."

"Oh," he murmured, turning to leave, but then stopped. "Do you want a graduation gift? I did promise I'd get you one."

I froze. I hadn't expected him to remember.

But I had long stopped expecting anything from him.

After a few seconds of silence, I looked up.

"Can you drive me to get a vaccine tomorrow?"

The company required us to get specific vaccinations before our overseas posting to Mexico, just in case.

"That's it?" he asked, surprised.

I nodded. "That's it."

He shrugged and agreed.

The next afternoon, with my bag packed, I stood by the door waiting for him.

But when Logan came out, he had a look of helplessness on his face.

"Lily needs to buy some clothes for the trip. I'm going to drop her off at the mall first. I'll drive you as soon as I get back."

"But my appointment is set."

"Can't you just reschedule? Lily is leaving tomorrow; she's in a rush."

The words died in my throat. Seeing my silence, Lily's eyes instantly welled with tears. She clutched the hem of her shirt and muttered softly:

"It's fine, I don't need new clothes. Logan, you should just take Chloe."

Logan immediately dismissed her worry.

"Don't talk like that. You need to look nice for the trip, don't you?"

Then, as if realizing he was being visibly biased, he threw the decision back to me.

"Chloe, what do you think?"

I looked at his face, seeing the silent pressure in his eyes. I felt incredibly exhausted.

They pretended to let me decide.

But we all knew the choice had never been mine to make.

I stayed silent for a few seconds, then forced a small smile.

"Go ahead."

Logan sighed in relief.

Lily ran over and planted a kiss on my cheek.

"Thanks, Chloe!"

"Don't worry about it."

I took an Uber and got the vaccine on my own.

Afterward, I booked a train ticket for the next day.

When I got home, Lily was busy showing off her new clothes to my parents.

Finally, she pulled out the gifts she bought for them.

My mother showered her with praise, but the moment she saw me walk in, her smile vanished.

"Chloe, I have to say, Lily is so much more thoughtful than you. She always remembers to buy things for your father and me, but you never think of us."

"Where would I get the money?"

The only reason Lily could buy them gifts was because my mother had handed her two thousand dollars before she left for the mall.

Lily was just using their own money to buy their affection, and my mother knew it. Yet, she still chose to use it to hurt me.

"What is that supposed to mean? Are you complaining that I don't give you money? How old are you? Still bitter and comparing yourself to Lily?"

My mother hadn't expected me to talk back. She sputtered in disbelief before launching into an angry tirade.

"I'm twenty-four. Only a year older than Lily."

"That's enough!" my father barked, cutting me off.

"You're a grown adult. Why are you picking fights with your mother?"

Logan looked at me with a complicated expression.

"Chloe, what is up with your attitude lately?"

With everyone taking her side, my mother's eyes turned red. She sniffled and stormed back to her bedroom, playing the victim.

"Chloe, you need to go apologize to Mom."

Lily blocked my path, grabbing my arm with a serious, self-righteous expression.

"Let go of me."

She shook her head, looking down at me as if she were my moral superior.

"She's your mother. She gave you life. How can you treat her like that? You're so ungrateful."

A deep, heavy sadness washed over me. In this house, she was the absolute last person who had any right to lecture me.

I had tolerated everything, stayed quiet, and never caused trouble.

And yet, even a tiny murmur of discontent wasn't allowed.

Everyone loved her, so everything she did was right.

"You're so noble, aren't you?"

My voice was barely a whisper. I didn't even look at her.

But the moment those words left my mouth, her face twisted in rage. She screamed at me as if she had been deeply insulted:

"No wonder Mom and Dad don't like you! You're a freak!"

With that, she shoved me hard and ran into her bedroom.

I stumbled back, hitting my hip hard against the sharp corner of the dining table. Pain shot through my body, forcing me to double over.

Logan rushed past me to comfort the crying Lily.

My father went into the bedroom to soothe my mother.

Nobody cared about me.

Good.

Clutching my bruised hip, I slowly dragged myself back to my bedroom.

That night, once again, nobody called me for dinner.

I was in too much pain to have an appetite anyway, so I stayed in my room.

But when I went out to use the bathroom later, the table was piled high with dirty dishes.

They were waiting for me to clean up.

Maybe they even thought they were giving me a "way out"---assuming I would crawl back to them, doing the chores like a pathetic maid just to get back in their great graces.

But I was done.

The next afternoon, my parents and Lily were excitedly preparing to leave for the airport.

When they saw me, their chatter paused for a second.

Then my mother let out a cold sneer.

"Always walking around with that miserable face, like the whole world owes her something."

Logan followed me into the bathroom. He watched me through the mirror, his voice deep and stern.

"Are you really not going to apologize to Mom? Can you really watch her leave for vacation unhappy?"

"She looks perfectly happy to me."

I shook the water off my hands, dried them, and pushed past him.

Logan's face turned pale with anger as he followed me out. Just as he opened his mouth to snap at me...

My mother cut him off. "Stop wasting your breath on her. She's just a stray dog that bites anyone who gets close."

This time, neither my father nor Logan, who usually tried to keep the peace, said a word.

I was the first to walk out of the house.

When we met downstairs, Lily suddenly froze.

"Chloe, where are you going?"

"Where else? To her job," my mother sneered, pulling Lily toward the waiting Uber.

But suddenly, my father stopped. His eyes fell on my suitcase.

If I was just going to the local supermarket, which was down the street, why did I have a heavy travel suitcase?

My father's heart skipped a beat. He waved at me frantically, but when I didn't look back, his pace quickened as he walked toward me.

"Chloe! Where are you going?"

But the next second, a loud, sharp horn blared.

He froze in his tracks, his face turning pale.