I, Sofia Lynch, lay on the operating table, donating a kidney to my sister Freya Lynch. During the surgery, the doctor answered several phone calls for me. The first call was from my mom, Evelyn Lynch: “We’ve raised you all these years, what’s wrong with helping Freya out?” Next was my brother Simon Lynch: “Are you still holding a grudge against Freya? You were the one who got lost back then—why don’t you blame yourself?” Then came my ex-boyfriend Nathan Geller, who said coldly: “Freya just needs one of your kidneys, it’s not like she’s asking for your life. You owe her anyway.” None of them knew that I had already signed the consent form. The fresh kidney was removed. And I truly lost my life. ***** From childhood, I was taught to always give way to Freya. Because we were twins. I was born healthy, while she was rushed to an incubator for emergency care. At the time, an experienced elderly woman in the next bed took one look and said: “Your older daughter stole the younger one’s life force. The older one was bullying the younger one even in your womb. She’s a jinx.” Evelyn’s hand trembled when she heard this, and the smile on her face dimmed. As Freya and I grew up, we started kindergarten together. During one parent-teacher conference, the teacher told Evelyn: “Sofia eats quite well, but Freya doesn’t. She’s too frail and can only manage two or three bites each time.” That day when we got home, Evelyn knocked over my lunch: “How dare you eat? Can’t you see Freya is suffering? Are you deliberately eating more to spite her?” I held my spoon, staring at Evelyn’s angry face, completely at a loss. Outside the kindergarten, rain began pouring down heavily. She picked up Freya, covered her head with a jacket, and walked quickly. I stumbled after them, timidly calling out: “Mom, the rain’s too heavy. Can you walk slower?” The moment the words left my mouth, I knew I’d said the wrong thing. Her gaze was cold as ice: “You know the rain’s heavy? Freya’s so weak—getting caught in the rain could kill her. Sofia, are you trying to hurt her?” I wanted to explain that wasn’t my intention, but she had already rushed into the rain. That evening, I overheard her speaking quietly to my dad, Ayden Lynch, outside the kitchen: “When Sofia was born, I didn’t believe what people said. But now I think she’s naturally cold and selfish, like a vampire.” I was only four then and didn’t understand what “cold” or “selfish” meant, much less what a “vampire” was. But those three words followed me until today, lying on this operating table. The shrill phone ring sounded again. I struggled to move my eyes, pressed the answer button, and the doctor held the receiver to my ear. It was Evelyn calling. Her voice was urgent and angry: “Sofia, where the hell are you? Freya’s waiting for you to save her life. Do you know how much pain she goes through with each dialysis session?” Ayden seemed to be nearby. She was complaining angrily to him: “We’ve raised her all these years, why can’t she just help Freya?” Ayden’s voice came through: “Don’t we know what kind of person she is?” Evelyn continued furiously: “It’s just one kidney, how could she run off to another city? Won’t come home, won’t answer calls. Acting like we’re forcing her or something. If she wasn’t the best match for Freya, why would I even ask her? In the end, it’s my fault. I never should have given birth to her in the first place.” Yes, just one kidney. So many people donate kidneys—why couldn’t I do it? Simon let out a cold laugh, grabbed the phone, and said: “I know why. Sofia, are you still holding a grudge about getting lost that Christmas?”
That’s right, I got lost for four months when I was five, during Christmas. We went to the amusement park as a family for Freya’s birthday. She wore a powder blue princess dress, cradled in Ayden’s arms while Evelyn held an umbrella with one hand and Simon’s hand with the other. I followed behind them, keeping my distance, watching as Freya seemed in good spirits. Her little hands would point at white birds one moment, then at rabbits the next, making soft sounds that had Ayden and Evelyn laughing heartily. Simon even ran off to pick a handful of sunflowers for her. Their faces were all glowing with warm happiness. I struggled to keep up, but the distance between us kept growing. Suddenly, a large crowd surged forward. Eventually, at an ice cream shop around a corner, I could no longer see them. Lost children weren’t uncommon at amusement parks. The park manager told me, “Don’t be scared, your parents will come looking for you. We’ve already made an announcement.” I nodded and said, “I’m not scared. It’s just that they’re celebrating my sister’s birthday, so they’ll probably come get me later.” I added, “Today’s my birthday too.” The manager paused for a moment, then handed me a piece of candy. I carefully unwrapped it and sat there from morning until dusk, until all the park rides fell silent and the lights went out. Finally, a flicker of pity crossed the manager’s eyes. I was taken to the police station. Seven days later, I was transferred to a nearby children’s home. Four months later, Ayden appeared at the children’s home entrance. The moment he saw me, he slapped me: “How dare you run off like that! Do you know how long we looked for you?” Evelyn kept a stern face, glancing at me with hesitation, unusually refraining from scolding me. She frowned and stopped Ayden, her tone somewhat impatient: “Alright, we found her now, didn’t we? Stop making a scene here. Aren’t you embarrassed enough?” She glanced at her watch: “I only took half a day off. You take her home—I need to get back to work.” When I got home, I discovered all my belongings had been moved to the storage room. The house only had two bedrooms—one for my parents, and the other that Freya and I used to share. Now the bunk bed in that room had been removed and replaced with a pink bunny princess bed, and the walls had been repainted in pink and white. Ayden said coldly, “Freya was hospitalized three months ago. The doctor said she needs a clean environment. Since you often help your mother with chores, don’t dirty up her room.” So it was because Freya was sick that I had been “left” outside for so long. I fidgeted with my fingers and carefully began, “Dad, could I maybe…” Ayden interrupted me irritably: “Didn’t you understand what I said? Don’t even think about moving back. Freya needs quiet. Can’t you be more considerate?” He turned and left, muttering something like, “I shouldn’t have bothered bringing you back. What a waste of effort.” I was too frightened to say another word. All I wanted to ask was whether I could use the leftover paint to touch up the walls in my storage room. The wallpaper was so brittle that the slightest touch would send flakes drifting down. But what right did I have to make requests? They couldn’t spare the time to look for me then, and it was the same now. Just like now—they clearly knew which city I was in, yet not one of them was willing to come. The attending physician entered the room: “Ms. Lynch, let’s confirm one final time. Are you certain about proceeding with the organ donation tomorrow? This is your own voluntary decision, with no coercion or pressure from anyone?” I blinked and nodded. He continued, “Do you need us to notify your family to come?” I shook my head. A trace of sympathy appeared in his eyes. That evening, a nurse came to change my IV and reminded me about the pre-surgery instructions for tomorrow. Just then, my phone rang again. The nurse looked somewhat annoyed but still asked, “Do you want to answer it?” I struggled to look at the caller ID. It was Nathan. He used to be my boyfriend, but now he belonged to Freya.
Nathan’s deep voice came through the phone: “Sofia, Freya’s body can’t wait any longer. I know you resent me, but I was the one who pursued Freya back then—it had nothing to do with her. If you’re angry, take it out on me, but please don’t make things difficult for her.” Nathan’s deep voice came through the phone: “Sofia, Freya’s body can’t wait any longer. I know you resent me, but I was the one who pursued Freya back then—it had nothing to do with her. If you’re angry, take it out on me, but please don’t make things difficult for her.” He paused: “Do you… still have feelings for me?” I lay in the hospital bed, staring at the stark white ceiling. My silence seemed to confirm his suspicion. Nathan’s breathing became labored. I lay in the hospital bed, staring at the stark white ceiling. My silence seemed to confirm his suspicion. Nathan’s breathing became labored. I lay in the hospital bed, staring at the stark white ceiling. My silence seemed to confirm his suspicion. Nathan’s breathing became labored. I lay in the hospital bed, staring at the stark white ceiling. My silence seemed to confirm his suspicion. Nathan’s breathing became labored. He took a deep breath: “Sofia, you were the one who brought up breaking up. I even asked if I could be with Freya, and you nodded and agreed at the time. Now you’re going back on your word—what exactly do you want? We’ve known each other for ten years. For the sake of our past, please just let us go this time. I’m begging you.” He took a deep breath: “Sofia, you were the one who brought up breaking up. I even asked if I could be with Freya, and you nodded and agreed at the time. Now you’re going back on your word—what exactly do you want? We’ve known each other for ten years. For the sake of our past, please just let us go this time. I’m begging you.” My eyes finally blinked. Ten years—so much time had already passed. My eyes finally blinked. Ten years—so much time had already passed. Yes, we’d known each other since middle school. Like every teenage romance story, the troublemaker was seated next to the straight-A student by the teacher, hoping she could change him. Yes, we’d known each other since middle school. Like every teenage romance story, the troublemaker was seated next to the straight-A student by the teacher, hoping she could change him. Of course, he wasn’t someone who could be changed so easily. He pulled my braids, tore up my test papers, and even put chewed gum in my textbook… But I remained unmoved, which only drew his attention. Of course, he wasn’t someone who could be changed so easily. He pulled my braids, tore up my test papers, and even put chewed gum in my textbook… But I remained unmoved, which only drew his attention. So he began pursuing me, from middle school all the way through college. His high SAT scores shocked his parents. They specially bought gifts and came to our house to thank me, taking my family out to dinner. So he began pursuing me, from middle school all the way through college. His high SAT scores shocked his parents. They specially bought gifts and came to our house to thank me, taking my family out to dinner. Later, how did we break up? I could barely remember anymore. After all, we attended colleges in different cities. Later, how did we break up? I could barely remember anymore. After all, we attended colleges in different cities. At first, he called every day and took the train to see me every weekend. He didn’t have much money then, so he could only buy standing-room tickets, squeezed among migrant workers in the swaying train car, standing for hours until his hands and feet went numb. At first, he called every day and took the train to see me every weekend. He didn’t have much money then, so he could only buy standing-room tickets, squeezed among migrant workers in the swaying train car, standing for hours until his hands and feet went numb. Gradually, his calls went from daily to weekly. Then he stopped showing up altogether. Gradually, his calls went from daily to weekly. Then he stopped showing up altogether. I tried to contact him, but he said coldly: “Sofia, I’m really busy with my studies now. You need to learn to be independent and stop relying on me all the time.” I tried to contact him, but he said coldly: “Sofia, I’m really busy with my studies now. You need to learn to be independent and stop relying on me all the time.” Until one time when I quietly went home and saw Nathan from afar, sitting and eating with Ayden, Evelyn, Freya, and Simon. None of the five noticed me standing in the yard with my suitcase. The food that Ayden and Evelyn put on his plate, he immediately passed to Freya, gently stroking her hair. Freya smiled shyly. Simon immediately started teasing them, and the whole table burst into laughter. After dinner, Simon pulled Nathan to a corner of the yard. He said: “You’ve noticed too, right? Freya is better than Sofia, isn’t she? You were right to think so. Freya is sweet, innocent, and gentle—completely different from that mean-spirited Sofia. If you want to be with Freya, we all support you.” After dinner, Simon pulled Nathan to a corner of the yard. He said: “You’ve noticed too, right? Freya is better than Sofia, isn’t she? You were right to think so. Freya is sweet, innocent, and gentle—completely different from that mean-spirited Sofia. If you want to be with Freya, we all support you.” Nathan hesitantly nodded. Nathan hesitantly nodded. After I returned to school, I brought up breaking up. He was silent for a moment, then asked: “Then can I pursue Freya? I want to be with her. I hope you can understand.” After I returned to school, I brought up breaking up. He was silent for a moment, then asked: “Then can I pursue Freya? I want to be with her. I hope you can understand.” I gripped my phone tightly and said: “I can’t understand.” I gripped my phone tightly and said: “I can’t understand.” I truly couldn’t understand why he fell for someone else so quickly. Was I not good enough? Or could a few idle words instantly destroy seven years of feelings? So I became stubborn and willful. I repeated: “I can’t understand. Nathan, you’re not allowed to pursue her.” So I became stubborn and willful. I repeated: “I can’t understand. Nathan, you’re not allowed to pursue her.” He exploded: “Sofia, you kicked me to the curb! Now you won’t let me pursue anyone else? You really are as selfish as your family says! She’s your sister. I must have been blind to fall for you!” He exploded: “Sofia, you kicked me to the curb! Now you won’t let me pursue anyone else? You really are as selfish as your family says! She’s your sister. I must have been blind to fall for you!” He exploded: “Sofia, you kicked me to the curb! Now you won’t let me pursue anyone else? You really are as selfish as your family says! She’s your sister. I must have been blind to fall for you!” I stared expressionlessly out the dormitory window. But there would never again be that boy with a backpack, travel-worn and running to smile at me. I stared expressionlessly out the dormitory window. But there would never again be that boy with a backpack, travel-worn and running to smile at me. I stared expressionlessly out the dormitory window. But there would never again be that boy with a backpack, travel-worn and running to smile at me. I stared expressionlessly out the dormitory window. But there would never again be that boy with a backpack, travel-worn and running to smile at me. So I said flatly: “Then go ahead and pursue her.” So I said flatly: “Then go ahead and pursue her.” So I said flatly: “Then go ahead and pursue her.” Maybe I really wasn’t good enough. Because I had been stubborn and willful once. I could have gone to the same prestigious university that Nathan attended. Before the SAT exam, my teacher Emily Jones personally came to our house for a home visit. She walked into our home with a bright smile: “Sofia is such a thoughtful child. I’ve selected several excellent schools here that you can consider.” Ayden was clearly uninterested in any of this. Evelyn took the materials from Emily’s hands, but her expression gradually darkened. Seeing this, Emily looked confused and hesitantly excused herself to leave. I quietly finished the household chores and dried my hands. In the kitchen, Evelyn was busy making soup for Freya. I stood behind her and carefully spoke up: “Mom, which school do you think would be best for me to apply to?” I nervously gripped the corner of my clothes and added: “I like New York University. Ms. Jones said if I perform normally, I might be able to…” “Clang!” The pot lid crashed heavily to the floor. Evelyn turned around and stared at me, her tone ice-cold: “Where else do you like? Why don’t you just fly to the sky? Have we mistreated you or are you dissatisfied? Are you that eager to leave?” My hands trembling, I mustered the courage to defend myself for the first time: “Mom, I don’t want to run away. I just want to take the exam like everyone else.” Evelyn ruthlessly interrupted me: “Then why can’t you choose a university close to home?” She said viciously: “If you go to college out of state, who’s going to cook at home? Who’s going to do the housework? Who’s going to take care of your younger siblings? Do you expect your brother who’s in eighth grade? He’s at a critical stage right now. Do you want him to drop out after middle school and start working?” She glared at me and said through gritted teeth: “Or do you expect Freya, who’s still at home on medical leave?” I couldn’t help but tear up and shouted: “Everyone else hopes their children can achieve something great, so why do you hope I’ll do poorly!” Evelyn didn’t even look up as she said: “I don’t want you to do poorly. No matter what score you get, you must stay here.” Ayden walked in, frowning with impatience: “Why are you talking about these useless things? It’s already been decided. Why keep going back and forth? Do you want to eat or not?” I closed my eyes. Even though it was midsummer, a chill rose in my heart. I had understood since childhood that my family didn’t like me. When I got older, I learned from relatives about the accident that happened when Freya and I were born. I worked hard to shoulder the household responsibilities and never made any extra demands. I ate what Freya tasted once and didn’t like, wore her hand-me-down clothes, and when my notebooks were filled, I wrote on the back pages, using draft paper that I’d erased clean to continue writing. I always thought I had tried my best to make amends. But in their eyes, it all still seemed insufficient. Yet I was human too, with dreams and expectations. Despite everything, I secretly applied to New York University. However, what I received was an acceptance letter from a local vocational school. Emily looked at me with regret, hesitating to speak: “Actually, our school did a lot of work trying to convince your parents, but they insisted on changing the schools you applied to. They made quite a scene at school, and in the end, the administration was afraid of trouble and decided to stop making home visits. I was worried it would affect your exam, so I never dared tell you.” I nodded calmly and bowed deeply to Emily: “Thank you.” I stayed at school for a long time, not returning home until dark. The family was crowded in the living room watching TV. Ayden was shirtless, and Evelyn was fanning Simon. In the kitchen were cold leftovers. I asked quietly: “Mom, why did you do this?” She didn’t take her eyes off the TV for even a second: “Why what?” Then she glanced at the acceptance letter in my hand and responded indifferently: “Oh, the acceptance letter. Didn’t I tell you about this already?” Perhaps she saw the tears in my eyes, because she finally added coldly: “Just consider this your fate. You owe Freya, and you have to pay it back.”
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