Chapter 1The family group chat? A hundred messages a day.
My sister Lily whines once, and boom—Mom and Dad pile on with 99+ comfort messages.
My texts? Nothing.
Me: Train tickets are sold out. Not coming home this summer.
Lily: Em, when you get back, make me steak! Not too done, okay?
Mom: Raw meat's bad for you. Cook it more.
I stared at my message drowning in theirs.
I left the chat.
When they don't need me? I don't exist.
When they do? I'm the help.
Never Emma. Never their daughter.
When I picked up my phone again, Mom had already carpet-bombed my inbox.
Mom: Why'd you bail on the chat? Lily's been spiraling, thinking she annoyed you with all her messages.
Mom: She brought you back a souvenir from her trip, by the way. You owe her an apology.
Mom: Your dad'll handle the steak. You'd just mess it up anyway. Focus on the side dishes.
She still hadn't even glanced at what I sent.
Me: I'm at school.
Three words. That's all she's getting.
Her reply came flying back: Oh! Well then grab a ticket and get home.
Lily only wants YOUR food. Says nobody else can do it right.
My mouth twisted into something bitter.
Freshman year, Lily was still in high school.
I'd blow up our four-person chat with every little thing—classes, cafeteria food, random thoughts.
Like I was performing for an empty room.
The unread count climbed. 50. 75. 99+.
When I came home for break, I watched Dad swipe left without even opening them. Mom did the same.
One clean motion. Muscle memory.
I asked them about it once.
Got a shrug. "What's there to reply to?"
Right. My life wasn't worth thirty seconds of their time.
Then Lily went to college.
Suddenly the chat was alive—pinging constantly, everyone talking over each other.
She'd delete a message and they'd still hunt her down asking what it said.
A month ago, I asked them for money.
Six hundred bucks. Living expenses.
Had to send them an itemized list. Prove I wasn't wasting it. They called it "building character."
Meanwhile Lily gets three grand a month and posts her brunches like she's running a food blog.
She sends a receipt? Boom—Mom and Dad materialize like fairy godparents, tossing money at her.
You're still growing! Eat well, baby. Let us know if you need more.
Lily goes home every month. They drive out to get her, no questions asked.
Me?
I had to beg for a $120 train ticket.
They ignored that message like I'd sent them spam.
I DM'd Mom once. She was mid-conversation in the group chat—typing away, laughing at Lily's jokes.
Took her a full day to send me back some random emoji that had nothing to do with what I asked.
I DM'd Dad.
An entire semester. Not one word.
I don't get it.
If picking me up meant an extra thirty miles, fine—I get why they'd complain.
But a text?
How hard is it to type one sentence?
Me: Can you not read? I said I'm staying on campus. I'm not coming home.
Mom: Are you seriously throwing a fit right now?
A few minutes later: Oh wait I saw it now lol. Out of money? I'll send some over.
The ticket was $120.
She sent $100.
You should've just SAID something! We're not refusing to help. If we didn't see it, send it again?
You and that silent treatment of yours. All you ever do is pout.
I didn't answer.
Put my phone down. Got back to work.
I'd been hustling side jobs for years. I didn't need them.
By the time I finished my shift and headed back to campus, Mom had sent more texts than she had all semester combined.
Why didn't you accept the transfer?
You can't even answer your mother now?
Lily heard you're not coming home and she's been a wreck all day.
Fine. I called your advisor. I also talked to the RA and got your dorm approval revoked. You can't stay on campus anymore. I expect you home tonight.
The scanner at the dorm entrance flashed red when I scanned my face.
The RA walked over, looking apologetic.
"You're Emma, right? Yeah, your parents called. I'll let you in to grab your stuff, but... you gotta go home. Don't make them worry, okay?"
I stood there.
Staring at that red screen.
And something inside me just... stopped trying.
Chapter 2
I got off the train past ten at night.
Lucky break—managed to catch the last bus home.
Knocked on the door.
It flew open. Faster than usual.
Some woman I'd never seen stood there, eyebrows raised. "Yeah?"
I froze. Double-checked the apartment number. "Um... doesn't my family live here?"
She snorted. "Wrong place, sweetheart. Bought this unit months ago. Need me to flash the paperwork or something?"
SLAM.
Door in my face.
I stood there like a complete moron, reality crashing down in slow motion.
My parents moved.
Didn't tell me.
This was Grandma's place. We weren't exactly rolling in it—whole family stuffed in here for years.
Right before she died, she grabbed my hand. Could barely breathe, but still fierce as hell.
"Emma gets this house. You listening?
I know how you people are. But she's got ME in her corner."
I was seventeen. Once she was gone, Mom and Dad swooped in and took it anyway.
Lily complained she needed a study space.
So I got booted from my bedroom onto a fold-out cot on the balcony.
They said I'd get the house after graduation.
I guess what they meant was they'd sell it by then.
Now I'm huddled in some apartment stairwell like a damn homeless person.
Motion-sensor light keeps flickering on and off above me. Every time it turns on, mosquitoes dive-bomb my head, buzzing so loud I want to claw my ears off.
Summer heat making everything ten times worse.
I'm losing it—rage and heartbreak knotted up so tight I can't think straight.
Staring at my phone.
11:30 PM.
Mom and Dad—who literally SCREAMED at me to come home tonight—radio silence.
The only thing talking back to me is these bloodsucking bugs.
Must've blacked out from exhaustion.
Woke up to morning sun and a notification.
Mom finally sent a location pin.
Mom: New place! Totally spaced on telling you haha
*Wait did you go to the old apartment? That's like super far lol just stay put, your dad's grabbing breakfast for Lily anyway, he'll scoop you up
I texted asking when he'd be there.
Nothing.
I stood up. Brushed the dust off.
Found the bus stop.
Three hours later, I'm standing outside their new building.
Mom's message pops up.
Mom: omg your dad completely forgot lmaooo just head over yourself
The sun's beating down on me like it has a personal grudge.
I let out this ugly, broken laugh and marched straight to their door.
Knocked hard.
Mom opened up, eyes wide. "Whoa! That was fast!"
I looked past her.
Lily sat at the table eating some fancy dessert.
From that boutique spot near the old place. Their specialty parfait thing.
Dad would've driven RIGHT BY IT. Wouldn't have cost him two extra minutes.
He was in the kitchen now. Lunch spread already out on the table—multiple dishes, all done.
So he's been back for a while.
Just couldn't be bothered to text me until now. To tell me to stop waiting.
So much rage jammed in my throat I thought I'd choke.
My lips shook.
"Three days. That's all I'm staying. Once we do Grandma's memorial, I'm out."
Crickets.
Mom's scrolling TikTok, cackling at something.
She yelled over at Lily: "Babe there's this sick new fusion spot down the block! We should hit it tonight!"
"Restaurant food's all chemicals though—"
Dad stuck his head out of the kitchen.
Lily's face fell. He crumbled immediately.
"Alright alright FINE! I'll go spy on the chef, steal the recipe, make it better at home anyway!"
"Dad you're so LAME. It's about the EXPERIENCE!"
They all cracked up.
"Do you guys have extra slippers?"
My voice disappeared under Lily's laughter.
Same shit, different day.
They never hear me.
Same way they never answer my texts.
Chapter 3
Growing up, Mom and Dad had one line: "We're too busy."
Lily was always sick, always whining, always needed something.
Every time I tried squeezing in for attention, they'd let out this huge sigh.
"Your sister's wiping us out. You're older. Deal with it."
Had a nasty fever once—head pounding, room spinning—tugged on Mom's sleeve saying I felt awful.
She didn't even look up. "Drink water. You'll be fine."
Got picked on at school, locked myself in my room crying. They barged in telling me to keep it down—I was bothering Lily.
Somewhere along the way, I just... disappeared.
College came around. Got a phone, joined the family group chat.
My roommates texted their parents about everything—lunch, random thoughts, whatever.
They asked why I didn't.
I shrugged. "My parents are slammed. No time for chitchat."
"Just send stuff anyway! They'll answer when they can."
She looked so sure, so happy. Something dead in me woke up a little.
So I started posting every single day.
Until I got smacked with reality.
Nobody replied. Nobody cared.
"Emma! Food's ready, we're good. But there's a ton of packages in the hall—go sort those out."
Mom's voice yanked me back.
Right. I only exist when there's work to do.
"I'm busy."
"Busy with what?"
Her voice shot up.
"There's memorial stuff for your grandma in there. She loved you like crazy. You can't even open some boxes?"
I gave up. Walked out.
The hallway was buried under delivery boxes—all Lily's stuff, clothes, snacks, makeup. Grandma's things at the very bottom.
Reached for the door handle.
Slammed shut in my face.
Mom's muffled voice from inside: "Why's the door open? AC's running! You're gonna overheat Lily!"
I banged on it. Nothing.
Texas heat, feels like a hundred degrees. Sweat rolling down nonstop.
That empty spot in my chest? Feels like someone's digging deeper. But the heat's burning out everything else—even anger.
Stood there until the delivery guy showed up. Mom opened the door for him. Now she sees me.
They'd already finished eating.
Mom looked over, totally casual. "Where'd you go? Whatever. Come do the dishes."
My eyes went to the keypad lock. "I was knocking. You didn't hear? Why isn't my print in there?"
"Just got it installed. You weren't home. Password's Lily's birthday."
"You didn't tell me."
I looked right at her. Voice flat.
"Didn't mention the code. Didn't say you sold the house. Grandma's house—the one she left me—moved without telling me, locked me out like I'm nobody.
What gives you the right?"
Mom froze. Looked confused first, then mad—like I'd slapped her.
"I'm your mother! That's all the right I need! What's wrong with you today?
Didn't hear you knock—so what? Even if I locked you out on purpose, even dumped you on the street, you'd deserve it!"
I stared at her face shaking with anger, eyes full of disgust.
Felt... nothing.
"Why's everyone yelling? Why are we standing in this heat? Come inside!"
Dad wandered over trying to smooth things over.
"Lily sweetie, didn't you want to go to the mall? Let's head out."
They dropped it just like that. Mom gave me one last look and walked out smiling.
Apartment went quiet.
That's when I noticed my vision was blurry. Face wet.
Oh.
I'm crying. Didn't even know.
Guess even my breakdowns are silent now.
