It's been five years since I died. My mom went on a national TV show with my sister, calling me an ungrateful daughter. "Chloe Starling, when your sister needed a heart transplant, you vanished." "Now, you won't even show up for your own father's funeral!" "A person like you deserves to be spat on while alive and burn in hell when dead!" Amidst the gasps of the audience, a woman stood up. "Chloe isn't coming." My mom sneered. "Bullshit! Even if she's hiding at the ends of the earth, I'll find her!" The woman walked onto the stage and handed a USB drive to the host. "The truth you're looking for is in here." ...... Chapter 1 "I don't want the 'truth,' I want to see Chloe! If you know her, tell her to get her ass here right now!" Mom rolled her eyes, yelling directly into the camera. "Chloe, do you know your dad looked for you for five whole years? He worked himself to death just last month trying to find you!" "Are you out there living the high life with his money?" "You won't even show your face at his funeral. You heartless, ungrateful brat!" She finished her rant and glared at the woman who had come onstage. "If you know where she is, hand her over!" The host turned to the woman. "Ma'am, what is your relationship with Chloe Starling?" The woman pulled a business card from her purse and held it up to the camera. "Hello everyone, I'm Sarah Cole, head of the Memory Capsule Project." "Chloe was a participant in our internal trials. We became friends through the process." A murmur ran through the audience. "I've heard of Memory Capsule. It extracts memories from the brain and turns them into video, like watching a movie." "So this USB drive... it has Chloe's memories on it?" "Who wants to see the memories of an ungrateful brat like that?" "Is she sick in the head? Won't see her family, but sends them her memories..." The scene was chaotic. The host quickly took control. "Since Ms. Cole claims to be Chloe's friend, let's see what secrets this drive holds." A staff member plugged the USB into a laptop. My sister, who had been silent, suddenly stood up in a panic. "We came to find Chloe, not watch this garbage." "Mom, let's go." Mom always listened to my sister. She grabbed her hand and started walking offstage. Sarah reached out and blocked their path. "If you leave now, you will truly never see her again." Mom hesitated. Finally, she led my sister back to their seats on stage. "Hmph. I want to see what kind of game Chloe is playing!" The lights dimmed, and the big screen flickered to life. It was me at six years old. I had been living in the countryside with my grandparents. Because I had to start elementary school, Mom and Dad brought me back to their city home. I looked enviously at the Elsa princess dress my sister was wearing and spoke timidly. "Hi, big sister." My sister glanced at my faded t-shirt and shorts, tilting her chin up. "I don't have a little sister. Mom said you're my slave!" I tried to explain. "No, you're the big sister, and I'm the little sister." Before I finished, my sister burst into loud tears. "I don't want a little sister, Mommy..." Mom rushed out of the kitchen at the sound, knocking me over as she scooped my crying sister into her arms. "Chloe, why are you so difficult? Bullying your sister the second you get back?" "Did you forget everything I told you in the car?" Seeing the devouring anger in Mom's eyes, I trembled with fear. "N-no, I remember." "Listen to your sister. Whatever your sister does, she is always right." "Then apologize to her!" Mom glared at me coldly. I sniffled, my voice choked with sobs. "Sister, I'm sorry." Mom patted my sister's back, comforting her gently. "Luna, no one can ever take your place in Mommy's heart. You are Mommy's only treasure." Later, Mom took my sister to the mall and bought her lots of beautiful new clothes. She stuffed the old clothes that wouldn't fit in my sister's closet into my room. "Chloe, these are gifts from your sister." I had never seen so many pretty clothes. Even if they were my sister's hand-me-downs, I was overjoyed. "Thank you, big sister." That night, I woke up from a nightmare and went to find Mom. I saw my sister sleeping in Mom's arms, looking up coquettishly. "Mommy, why is my name Luna and hers is Chloe?" Mom kissed her cheek. "Because the stars revolve around the moon. Mommy had your little sister just so she could keep you company." My sister smiled smugly. "So little sister is my slave, right?" "Of course. Stars are born only to guard the moon." Tears welled up in my eyes. I stood frozen in place. Only when the lights in the room went out did I drag my numb legs back to my room. The words echoed in my ears. Stars are born only to guard the moon... Chapter 2 The first memory clip ended, and the studio was dead silent. Until someone in the audience couldn't hold back. "Such favoritism from a young age. No wonder Chloe ran away from that toxic family." That one comment opened the floodgates. The crowd erupted in discussion. "She calls herself a mother? If you can't treat them equally, don't have a second child!" "I'd run too if I grew up in a house like that!" Accused by everyone, Mom jumped up anxiously from her seat. "Stop talking nonsense! I don't have favorites! There was a reason..." The screen lighting up again cut off Mom's words. I was ten years old. Today was Mom's birthday. I used the allowance I had saved for a long time to pick out the most beautiful bouquet of lilies at the flower shop. I carried them carefully all the way home. But when I got to the door, I was dumbfounded. Nobody was home. I couldn't get in. Mrs. Davis next door saw me sitting on the steps in a daze, looking surprised. "Chloe, your mom said they were going out for a birthday dinner. I saw her leave with Luna to meet your dad. How did they forget you?" I explained stubbornly, my eyes red. "I didn't want to go. And I forgot my key." They didn't come back until late at night. I couldn't help but complain. "Mom, Dad, how could you forget me?" Dad explained. "Your mom said you didn't want to go out tonight. I even saved you a piece of cake." I thought Mom would explain, but she used a matter-of-fact tone. "Chloe, I forgot to tell you. Your sister wanted to celebrate my birthday alone with me, so we didn't call you." Hearing this, Dad frowned in confusion. "Linda, how long are you going to keep this favoritism up? Isn't Chloe your daughter too?" Mom sneered. "Mark, Luna has said many times she just wants the three of us to go out, but you always have to bring Chloe along. You don't care about Luna's feelings at all." "You promised me you wouldn't neglect Luna before I agreed to have a second child. But you haven't kept your word all these years. You only care about Chloe!" Dad quickly covered my ears. "What nonsense are you spouting in front of the child? Have you cared for Chloe at all since she came back?" "Do you know Chloe already has serious psychological issues? She has to see a therapist every month!" Hearing this, a trace of panic flashed across Mom's face. But she quickly calmed down. "What psychological issues can a child have? I think she just wants to compete for attention with Luna and is acting out to trick everyone!" "If you really think I made her sick, then send her back to your mother's house." Dad stared wide-eyed in disbelief. "Linda, do you know what you're saying?" Mom's face was cold. "I only know that Luna has heart disease. She can't handle any stimulation. She can't suffer any grievances!" They started arguing about it again. I lowered my head and went back to my room. That night, I endured the hunger and hid under the covers, crying myself to sleep. The next day, I found the bouquet of lilies was gone. I thought Mom had accepted my gift. "Mom, those flowers..." Before I could finish, Mom interrupted me. "Chloe, don't bring messy flowers into the house anymore. Your sister said they stink." My smile froze on my face. My gaze fell into the trash can nearby. The withered flowers were mixed with leftover food, emitting a foul smell. It was nauseating. I bit my lower lip hard, tears falling spinelessly. "Mom, that was my birthday gift to you..." Suddenly, my sister pointed to a new drawing hanging on the wall and laughed happily. "Mommy, you hung up the birthday gift I gave you! Thanks for liking it, Mommy!" Mom gave my sister a thumbs-up proudly. "Baby's own drawing is so beautiful. Mommy should thank you." Then she glanced at me with disgust. "Cry, cry, cry. All you know how to do is cry. Why did I give birth to a debt collector like you?" "Chloe, stop standing in the kitchen and getting in the way!" The scene ended there. Before the audience could react, Mom immediately grabbed the microphone. "This video must be faked with software! I don't remember this happening at all!" "Director, even if you want ratings, you can't slander us like this, right?" "I'm not recording this show anymore!" Chapter 3 Mom got up to leave. The host looked helplessly at the staff offstage. "Mom, don't go." Behind her, my voice came out with a sob. Mom stopped in her tracks. The screen lit up again. "Mom, please don't leave me, okay?" I grabbed Mom's sleeve, begging bitterly. The house was suddenly engulfed in raging fire. Flames and thick smoke were everywhere. Mom threw off my hand. "Luna is still sleeping in the big room. I have to find her first." "Chloe, you stay here and be good. I'll come save you after I find your sister!" I watched helplessly as Mom disappeared into the fire. I was choked by the thick smoke until tears streamed down my face. I don't know how long it took, but firefighters rushed in and saved me from the sea of fire. Dad, who was at work, got the news and rushed to the hospital. I needed immediate surgery because of severe burns on my legs. Dad paced anxiously in the hallway. He turned and saw Mom leading my sister past him. "Linda!" Seeing Dad, Mom walked over excitedly. "Did you get my message? The house suddenly caught fire. Luckily, I got Luna to the hospital in time. The doctor said if we had been any later, and she inhaled too much smoke, her heart wouldn't have been able to take it." "I plan to let Luna stay in the hospital for a few days for observation. Anyway, the house isn't livable anymore..." "Where's Chloe?" Dad interrupted her with a dark face. Hearing my name, Mom was visibly stunned. Panic quickly welled up in her eyes. "Chloe... Chloe was still in the house. I was too anxious and forgot her. Honey, what do we do?" Dad laughed in anger at her reaction. Pointing at the operating room door, he roared. "Linda, are you crazy? The fire was so big, and you left Chloe alone in the room? Did you want to kill her?" "If the firefighters hadn't saved Chloe in time, she might already be dead!" Hearing the news that I was saved, Mom breathed a sigh of relief. "As long as she's okay. Wasn't I just too worried because Luna has heart disease?" "When Chloe wakes up, I'll explain it to her properly." Seeing Mom's indifferent attitude toward me. Dad clenched his fists and swallowed the words he was about to say. For the next few days, perhaps out of guilt, Mom stayed at the hospital to take care of me. Mom slept with me for the first time. Mom braided my hair for the first time. Mom fed me for the first time. ...... So many firsts made me greedy for this hard-won motherly love. I even felt that this fire was a good thing. The cause of the fire was investigated. It was my sister lighting my Barbie doll on fire that caused it. But Mom blamed me instead. "Why didn't you put your things away properly? Why did you leave them lying around?" I subconsciously retorted. "Even if I left things lying around, sister shouldn't have started a fire in the house and destroyed our home!" A slap to the face stunned me. Mom's eyes were red. "Chloe, did you forget what I told you? Whatever your sister does, she is always right. What right do you have to criticize her?" "If you hadn't left things lying around, would she have started a fire? You are not allowed to mention this again!" The scene changed. I had already gotten into college. My sister and I attended the same university. She was a junior, and I was a freshman. On this day, a senior from a club confessed his love to me in front of everyone on the playground, using candles to form a heart shape. The video went viral online that night. The next night. My sister asked to meet me at a secluded intersection. "Chloe, first you steal Mom and Dad, and now you steal the man I like." "Did you forget how Mom raised you? You are my slave. You have to listen to me. You can't do anything to hurt me!" These words haunted me like a curse. My whole body froze. "Sister, I... I didn't agree to him. I'll give you whatever you want." My sister sneered. "Give me everything?" "Chloe, it would be so good if you just died..." As her voice fell, a large truck sped through the intersection. The blinding headlights made people close their eyes. Just then, my sister pushed me toward the road. Honk honk honk— "Ah—" Chapter 4 The screen paused at the moment the truck ran over me. The whole audience gasped. Mom's face was pale as she looked at my sister in disbelief. "Is... is this real?" A commotion broke out in the audience. "Did Chloe really die?" "This sister is too evil. The family already favors her so much, and she still wants to kill her sister?" "Is this a missing persons show or a true crime show?" "It seems Chloe isn't hiding; she's been dead for a long time." My sister's eyes flickered with terror. Her hands trembled as she held Mom's arm. "I didn't! Mom, you have to believe me! I didn't kill Chloe!" "You don't have proof! Don't talk nonsense! I'm not a murderer!" Someone in the audience sneered. "The video is right in front of everyone. Who's talking nonsense?" "Exactly. You had the guts to kill your own sister, why don't you have the guts to admit it now?" My sister was anxious to the point of tears. "I didn't! Mom, explain it for me, hurry!" Mom subtly withdrew her arm from my sister's grasp. After hesitating again and again, she finally spoke. "But Chloe did disappear after that day. Her phone couldn't be reached." "You came home and told us Chloe ran away because she was mad at us. That's why I didn't call the police to look for her." "Luna, tell Mom the truth now, okay?" My sister was red-faced with embarrassment, fine sweat covering her forehead. "I pushed her and was scare so I ran back to the dorm. But I went back an hour later." "She and the truck were gone. There was no blood on the ground. I thought she was okay." "But then she disappeared. I was afraid you guys would find out, so I lied to you. I didn't mean to hurt her!" Mom swayed and slumped to the floor. "How could this happen? Luna, you've always been so kind. How could you harm your sister?" Seeing that even her doting mother didn't believe her. My sister completely broke down. "Mom, I really didn't kill her! Later, I went to the nearby hospitals to ask. They didn't receive any car accident victims that day." "I even went to the traffic police department. There was no record of that accident at all." But no one on set believed her. Even the director's crew was preparing to call the police. Just then, Sarah stood up. "I can prove that Luna Starling did not kill Chloe." "The Memory Capsule isn't finished. Let's wait until everyone finishes watching before drawing conclusions." My sister gave Sarah a grateful look and helped Mom back to her seat on the stage. The screen changed again. This time the background was a hospital. The truck driver had taken me for a checkup. I waved my hand at him. "Sir, my arm is just scraped a little. Some ointment will fix it." But the driver insisted I get a full body checkup. "Miss, we can't delay treatment in case there are internal injuries that we can't see." "I already paid the fees. Go get checked out quickly." After the checkup, the driver handed me a bottle of milk and some bread. I took a few bites, and my stomach suddenly felt a sharp pain. I couldn't help but vomit. "Miss, you're vomiting blood!" The driver was scared and quickly called for a doctor. I was taken for another exam. When the results came out, the doctor looked at me solemnly. "Chloe, the results show you have advanced stomach cancer. The situation is not optimistic." I looked at the doctor calmly. "How long do I have to live?" "If we treat it conservatively, at least six months..."
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