In the courtroom, my parents argued fiercely over custody of my twin sister.
Dad's stance was unyielding. "We can have the divorce, but Hannah stays with me!"
Mom wasn't having it. "Why should I agree? Hannah is my little princess, she's staying with me."
I shrank into a corner, feeling like an outsider.
No one cared that I was their daughter too.
The judge noticed my discomfort.
He banged his gavel loudly, cutting off their heated argument.
"Silence! I'd like to remind you that you have two daughters."
"You can split custody or raise them together."
Mom and Dad exchanged glances, and I saw the disgust for me in their eyes.
Mom shoved me toward Dad.
"Caroline's older, more sensible, and she can do housework. She's better off living with you."
But Dad refused.
"Caroline's a mess. She is sloppy, crude, and far from ladylike."
"I only want Hannah."
I clutched the hem of my shirt, waves of bitterness washing over me.
I'm Caroline, the older sister, born just five minutes before Hannah.
But from the moment I was born, I was destined to be ignored.
Hannah had always been sickly, constantly in and out of hospitals, and my parents devoted all their attention to her, leaving none for me.
Before I was even a year old, they sent me to live with my grandmother in the countryside.
When Grandma passed away, they brought me back to the city.
I thought I'd finally be reunited with my parents and sister, that we'd be a happy family.
But I was wrong.
What awaited me wasn't a warm embrace, but cold disdain and indifference.
I tried desperately to please them and behaved as an obedient and sensible daughter.
But to them, I was nothing more than a useless burden.
I took a deep breath, fighting to steady my trembling voice, and said, "While you two keep fighting, have you ever once asked how I feel? I'm your daughter too!"
My question didn't bring any reflection from my parents"it only deepened their disgust.
"Shut up!" my father barked, glaring at me with hatred.
My mother went further, shoving me to the ground.
My knees hit the hard floor, sending a sharp pain through my body.
Bright red blood slowly trickled from the wound.
Even the judge gave me a sympathetic look, but my parents pretended turned a blind eye to it.
My heart grew colder and colder.
I wiped the tears from my face. "Just choose my sister. Send me to the orphanage."