My Sister's Celebration

Three years since my sister Eleanor blocked me.

She donated a single dollar to my GoFundMe page and left this mocking comment:

[Lung cancer? If you really die, let me know. I'll celebrate.]

Three years ago, the poor student she sponsored, Ethan Evans, accused me of stealing his university placement.

Eleanor was furious.

She pulled me out of school herself.

"Even without school, I will have your back," she'd hissed,

"But stealing from someone else? That deserves punishment!"

We had a huge fight.

In the end, she coldly kicked me out.

"Come back when you admit you were wrong. I refuse to let you grow up with that terrible attitude!"

Since then, she's turned that poor student into her little prince.

Every job I found, she ruined. Eventually, I was left collecting cans and bottles just to eat.

Staring at her comment, I froze for a long time.

Then I called the cemetery plot broker.

"Hold the cheapest one for me. I'll send the deposit tomorrow."

Guess I got my wish.

"Young man, you'd better decide quickly, Burial plots are in high demand these days," the broker sighed over the phone, implying payment had to come first.

Over the past year, I'd visited the cemetery half a dozen times, but never bought.

Too expensive.

The money I had was for medicine, and there was almost nothing left.

Every time the broker asked which plot I wanted, I'd mumble awkwardly,

"Ah, forget it. Next time I'll bring family."

But this time, my voice was firm.

"Don't worry. I'm buying it this time."

After hanging up, my phone screen glowed back to the GoFundMe page.

Among all the

"Get well soon!"

messages, Eleanor's comment stood out sharply.

["Lung cancer? If you really die, let me know. I'll celebrate."]

I read it again and again.

Couldn't believe my own sister would say that.

But because of her dollar

My wallet balance hit exactly ten grand.

Enough to withdraw.

A bitter taste filled my mouth as I went to hit 'Withdraw.

Then, another donation notification popped up. A new comment.

From Ethan Evans, Eleanor's precious poor student.

He donated one cent and wrote:

["Hey man, just come home. Apologize properly and Eleanor will forgive you. Stop faking stuff like this."]

My fingers clenched around the phone.

But after a long moment, I said nothing.

Just clicked 'Withdraw.

Patches, the stray I took in, sensed my mood and brushed against my ankles.

I crouched down, ruffling his fur, then poured the last of his cheap kibble into his bowl.

It limped over eagerly and began to eat.

Patches was disabled, one of its legs had been broken.

As it ate, it kept glancing back at me.

Seeing that look, my eyes burned. It took me right back to the night Eleanor threw me out.

Her voice, cold and dripping with disgust.

"If you won't admit you're wrong, get out! I don't want you anymore!"

Three years ago, Ethan Evans had

"generously"

given up his university spot to me.

Then immediately ran to Eleanor, claiming I bribed the teacher to steal it.

He gambled his future on her getting angry.

And he won.

He timed it perfectly.

Eleanor was livid.

She didn't listen to a word I said and yanked me out of school herself.

I lost it.

We had a screaming match.

She slapped me hard across the face.

"Alex Vance," she spat,"I've given you everything you ever wanted since you were born! Why would you steal?"

"That spot meant everything to Ethan! He clawed his way out of nothing! Do you even understand?"

She ordered me to apologize to Ethan.

I refused.

"I didn't do anything wrong."

So she threw me out.

I sat outside that night, waiting.

Thought she was just mad.

She'd call me back in any minute.

But she never came.

As I turned to leave, hopeless, I saw a man dragging a cat outside.

"Meow"

The cat with a broken leg was thrown brutally to the ground, letting out a piercing cry.

The man looked disgusted. His expression it mirrored Eleanor's when she looked at me.

"Stupidest cat I ever saw. Get lost! I don't want you!"

His voice seemed to merge with Eleanor's.

I rushed over and picked up the weak, trembling kitten.

Its leg it wasn't broken from a fall.

It was snapped. Deliberately.

I spun around to confront the man, but his door was already slammed shut.

That's when it hit me.

Like that cat, whether I was guilty or not didn't matter.

When someone decided to discard us, they didn't need a real reason.

So I kept the cat.

Named him Patches.

For three years, Eleanor made sure I suffered.

Every job I found, she destroyed.

Finally, collecting cans was all I had left.

Patches downgraded with me.

Our rooms got smaller, the cat food cheaper.

I posted an adoption ad online.

I'd decided. The GoFundMe money would buy my plot.

As for my disease, since it was terminal anyway, I might as well die like Eleanor wanted.

But Patches needed a good home.

He had to live. For both of us.

Two hours later, my phone rang.

GoFundMe support.

"Alex Vance? Your fundraiser has been flagged for potential fraud. Your withdrawal failed."

"The reporter was your sister, Eleanor Vance."

My mind went blank.

"Who? Eleanor Vance?"

"Yes. She provided proof of relationship and claims your medical documents are fraudulent."

"We're investigating. Funds are frozen until verification."

I felt plunged into ice.

"My records are from top-tier hospitals! They can't be fake!"

"She hates me! She wants me dead..."

"Sir, please calm down," the agent cut in.

"We're verifying. If legitimate, funds will be released immediately."

After hanging up, I called Eleanor.

She'd unblocked me at some point.

The second she answered, I yelled,

"Eleanor! Why did you tell GoFundMe I'm faking?! Do you have any idea"

"Aren't you?"

Her voice was cool, almost amused.

"Alex, I know you're stubborn. Too proud to come home and apologize first. So you pull this stunt to make me cave."

"Here's the deal. Come home. Apologize. We'll pretend none of this happened."

My heart plummeted. Straight to hell.

So that's what she thought of me?

I gripped the phone, suddenly speechless.

Ethan's voice piped up in the background.

"El? Is that Alex? Just let him come home."

"Honestly, I forgave him for that thing years ago."

Eleanor's voice hardened.

"You're sweet, Ethan. But Alex needs to understand what he did wrong."

"He's my brother. I won't tolerate that kind of behavior!"

She was talking to Ethan, but the words were meant for me.

I let out a cold laugh.

"Eleanor. I didn't steal that spot. Ethan set me up."

"And today? I'm not faking anything. All my records are legit."

"I will never apologize. I'd rather die than admit to something I didn't do!"

"You"

she started.

I hung up. When she called back, I ignored it.

Rage made my chest heave. My lungs felt like they were being ripped apart.

A minute later, her text arrived,

[Alex, I'm so disappointed in you!]