âInstead of becoming happy that I was going back to my father, my life became worse.â
Oliviaâs statement didnât fit inside Jenniferâs mind.
She found it to be utter nonsense, because how can one not be happy to go back home after so long?
âWere you not happy like others?â
âMy parents found me in the orphanage house, only because they wanted to use me in a better way. There was no other option left for them.â
âAnd at last, I learned that they knew all along that I was in that orphanage house but they never cared to contact me ever since that time.â
The words clothed Jenniferâs mind. Her eyes widened with the comment, as the unsettled goosebumps appeared on her skin, âA-are you saying that..your father..and mother..â
.....
In response, Olivia had raised her head to look into Jenniferâs eye with the thick intensity present in those gazes, not even lessening,
âYou are correct. They intentionally left me.â
At this point, Jenniferâs mind went blank. She had no idea how to react to this cruel worldâs reality.
While some parents ought to be happy, her parents had finally left her to be in the orphanage house.
But what can be the reason for them to live without their daughter? Were they not missing her even a bit?
âThere must be a reason then. Isnât it so?â Jennifer cautiously asked, when she also grabbed Oliviaâs other hand.
In return, Olivia didnât mutter anything for the next few seconds. As if she was all together acting in the cage where Olivia had gone through no less.
Moreover, Oliviaâs eyelashes held the tears in them. Those tears were hard to let go, of since the droplets might fall at any time soon, âI.I...I..I heard that...it was supposed to be my elder sister, Olivia Genes, who was supposed to be kidnapped.â
âAt the last moment, my parents learned about this and they had swapped me with her because she was older and would probably start earning earlier for them as compared to me on whom they needed to spend money for my education and welfare.â
âTheir intentions were clear, Olivia was supposed to succeed in everything. But they let me act as a sacrifice for her.â Olivia managed to mumble under her deep breath.
At the same time, she had lowered her face to not even lift any more outface Jenifer, who felt numb after hearing all the words.
âOlivia Genes..â who was she? So...this ladyâs not the real Genes but it was her sister?
What a blunder!
Jenniferâs brain malfunction. She stepped on her toes to roam all around the cabin while she caressed her forehead with her soft hands. âThis...is complicated..â
Turning around, Jenniferâs eyes once again fell on the lady who was still not able to come out from the trauma she received, âWho are you then?â
âWhat is your real name?â
âSo-Sofia Genes.â
Oliviaâs hands curled into a fist when she uttered this name. It was a long passing memory for her.
Even recognizing herself became difficult after she took over the sisterâs name so that she can hide her past with the more leaves.
âSofia Genes...Then why did you change your name to your sister? And what name does your sister use now?â Jennifer enquired, with the same thickness of the frown on her forehead.
Immediately, the lady gulped the saliva before giving a positive answer, âWhen I went back home, I learned that my mother was on the dead-end. Ultimately, my sister started working when she was thirteen to earn for the family because my father....he had turned into a drunkard.â
âI saw my mother...and actually stayed with her for one week before she passed away leaving all of us behind. With this, everything fell upon me and my sister because my father was ultimately not in the state to work either. So, I also started to work when I came back home at the age of almost fourteen, whereas my sister was currently sixteen.â
âI wasnât given the proper education and my father... Well, letâs simply not talk about that man anymore. He was a hell of a person and unfortunately, I have his blood in my veins.â Oliviaâs teeth gritted when she talked about her father.
As if, the enmity was deeply enrooted in her mind, and pulling it out will not work so.
However, Jennifer wasnât in any mood to let this continue for hours before she finally asked, âWhat happened later on?â
âWhile I was working, and reached the age of sixteen, my sister had an accident and.. she... had lost a lot of blood. When we made her reach the hospital, things were too late and then... she was declared dead.â
Till the last word, Oliviaâs nerves broke down. Despite the multiple attempts to hold and fight back those surging emotions, she was left paranoid to get things fixed.
The horrifying events were like any passing memories to come through. At the same time, Jennifer had no words to express her sorrow.
She simply patted Oliviaâs back to massage her shoulders with her light hands.
Whereas, the soft warmness from Jennifer gave Olivia a bit more courage to simply get herself straight.
âAfter she died, my father.. he was the worst man. Thankful to God that he never raised his hand on me but... the mental and verbal abuse was too much.â
âHe used to use vulgar language in the house, yelling on the top of his lungs.. breaking things...he was a psycho gone madder after Oliviaâs death.â
âThings went slightly downhill when my father was also diagnosed with cancer and his lungs were..not in good condition. I was left with no option.â
âWe needed money for the surgery too. So I started to work extra time, keeping the heavy stone on my heart, because I didnât have the time to mourn my sisterâs death..â
Hearing la for this. Jenniferâs heart ached for this girl. She was beautiful, yet caught in the hustle of life.
As if, Jenniferâs heart is only telling her to give her hugs and stop her from telling anything.
However, this isnât only about telling the truth but from Oliviaâs perspective, it was simply to give an insight into all she has been holding back.
Lowering her eyelids, Jennifer took a deep breath to pass her a nod before asking, âSp, when did you meet Austin again?â
âIt was when I was... nineteen or twenty when he reappeared in my life...but not with the same interest.â
...
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