My Parents Donated My Retina After I Died

consent form for me. They transplanted my retinas

they finally beca

with Isabel, only to end up wi

cided to live for myself. Unexpecte

ck to the very day Isab

evented the death of Isabel's biological parents or thre

here, and no amount of f

a renowned painter who had her late in life. They treat

d from a mysterious eye condition. Her vision came and wen

eatment, but a tragic accident claimed bot

, they decided to treat her as their own. In fact, they seemed to ca

sister?" they asked. "From now on, Isabel

nder expectation, hoping I'd ge

ought I'd gained a warm new family member and was eager

She didn't want to share my love-sh

bel's health isn't great. Even though you're the younger on

ond, tears welled u

"Who'd want to share their family's love with someone else

was reborn too. How could an ei

and she'd already slapped

bel's tears with a

abel. It's bad

tarting today, we'r

tening on her lashes. She looked overwhelmed with

a mom and dad n

her, crying as one. No one bothered to ask my

ay there quietly, unable to sleep, my mind racing with plans t

thing clearly. The moment Isabel barged into this

I squinted, pretending to sleep, and watch

dark. My eyes hurt. I'm

How could Isabel, in such an unfamiliar house, naviga

in tears themselves. "Don't be afraid, Isa

burrowed into my mother

y in this house?" she asked

nk as I eav

ormed into my room. He yanked me out

o thoughtless? She's frail and has had such a

to him. "Lexie's still you

ut she stayed glued to Isabel, no

o their room and shut the door, lea

on me at night, tuckin

ot scared of the dark and felt the cold too. I

g an eye flare-up, then spinning lies to paint me as

ince she arrived, I went from being their sw

retly, matching her tit for tat. If sh

in public-gentle, timid, always yielding

never won. Even my brother, who on

ragile, gifted adopted daughter named Isabel, and

fight her anymore. I wanted to

ter between Isabel and my paren

saw Isabel sitting in my spot,

ey noticed me, as if I were the

e flickered wit

n't have her own dishes yet, so she's usin

lied. "I'm not into taki

ht the jab ai

lying" her the night before, lost h

on eggs, all Isabel's favorites. I was lactose i

," my mother said hastily. "I'll

cky? You spoil her too much. She's getting out of hand at such a youn

ve crushed me. I'd have thrown a fit

Isabel smirk triumphantly as she ate. But wh

like me. She grew up cherished and loved. It's natural she'

up again, marveling at h

thing growing up yet acted so sel

heavy with disapp

nearly cut ties with them completely.

bel, act like a clueless,

irl" and scrape some leftover affect

e family and love she schemed so

bel in school, I had already moved my things ou

l my space, it was about kee

y. "Lexie, you're so mature. Y

d the undertone. I only qualified as his "good girl" if I pitied

t supplies my parents once bought me, her face paled. She collapsed weakly int

roubled look. "Sorry, Lexie. For Isabel's sake,

ed up, my space kept shrinking until I did

el's eyes couldn't handle long paintin

buy art supplies freely or take clas

o paint hand-in-hand. Her works were framed with ca

exam, Isabel's vision failed mid-test.

tantly recognized the top-scorin

e. They just held a sobbing Isa

ut of time. You know she could go blind any moment! She's had such a

less gifted than Isabel, practiced in secret, d

nd that's not enough? Now she wants my life too? Give

father. "If Isabel's eyes weren't sick, you think you'd beat her? Yo

, unable to believe those wo

l took my place a

f the art circle, beaten by

bled, and I drifted

ting. So, in front of my parents, I

but they knew they were in the wrong.

dy, who studied abroad, came home. Mostly, he w

life, he fell for her

around the living room like a blind person, o

o blind, so I'm trying to learn how to live in the dark. That

tly edged me out while hinting to Bro

seemed straight out of a drama-delicate and piti

a family day out to

t had nothing to do with me, the selfi

tears falling like pearls. "Mom, Dad, you should take Br

ears gently. "Why would you sa

sting a timid glance my way

you picking on Isabel? What happened

My once-thoughtful mother, my strict-but-kind fathe

hy don't you ask Isabel how I bullied her? I e

nder my question,

lled at me, "It's that smug attitude of yours that hurts he

my to defeat, and Brody

ays. "Lexie, Brody's rarely home. Don't

d replied firmly, "She can have whatever she

f in my room, shutting ou

py foursome. No one called to c

sulked, starved myself,

pointless. It'd o

stant noodles and cracked open some

wn myself into self-improv

ve my own path by

twenty-something self from my past life.

my saintly family, but not on teachers

opped my year. Isabel

she'd cry about stress triggering her eye condition

house into chaos bec

ed as the adopted kid, my parents attended her parent-tea

got me mocked and bullied at school. Classmat

t the same tired excuse I'd heard a million times. "Isab

head in my spare time and, at twelve, skipped grades to

Everyone knew the Lyons fam

from high society, wanting me to befrien

them all down. He never considered how tho

d I compare to his

nd reporters came to our house to deliver it. But the

he faked a headache, and they rushed her to the

y parents, that moment still stung wi

tly, "We don't have boarding students, but if you want t

been ages since I felt care from an el

two truly important

dn't wait to leave this love

nts were off at the hos

ak but didn't lift a f

ut coldly and muttered, "Fina

into the taxi without

mazing-a cozy studio converted

for a stack of study guides. High school would be

't surprised to face rej

ave me a dorm, and they pegge

e-year-old genius is

scared living alone? C

oler. She might need to mix

hunned me because

normal teen, but to reborn me,

to the middle of the classroom and took

are different. Gotta

s the teacher's always wa

ed, leaving me alo

ing the jeers, and calml

out the chair besi

ut. "Hi, you're Lexie, right? I'm

. He had a clean-cut vibe

t with me, and they'll c

with a playful wink. "Haha, they

lias's. She must've guessed I'd struggle to

en if it was just for her sa

exam, my top scores s

for help. My high school life, once rocky,

sprawling campus fel

e library, but Maverick

home and worried I'd feel lon

and neglect made me treasure

talkative Maverick gave me a tas

ere really did thi

nt every weekend wi

dying was great, but pushi

d thrilled without me. Not one c

pened up, reclaiming some of the innoce

e day and said, "I've always wante

overheard my father say to Isabel, "You've got real t

g, and my eyes

g my tears with his sleeve. "It was just a

in. She pressed me gently until I sp

rama-queen adopted girl? Are they under a spell or something? She's got

head, warning him

like a mother. "From now on, you're my goddaug

bled beside us, "If she's your daugh

life. I even stayed in the dorms over most of wi

ere dragging Isabel to doctors and cramming her into

ng achieved financial freedom.

work. In my past life, my father and Isabel conv

f pieces I'd spotted, pocketing

y and entrusted my investments to

precedented peace. Having a skill to s

averick carved out time to

while Maverick and I na

but my good mood vanished whe

's arm, my saintly pa

and their bright

dy the moment she saw me

e glare my way. "All that talk about s

"Lexie, are you on a date with your boyfriend? Mom and Dad were so worried, but you

you're so young, lying to us for some boy? Are you try

w accusation on me, not b

mily was, Maverick still look