Part 2My Bridal Dress Taken, I Depart

The heavy wooden door flew open.

My mother stormed into the suite, her face dark with fury.

Hailey was right behind her, still wearing my wedding dress.

"Do you think marriage is a game?" my mother hissed, glaring at me. "You're refusing to walk down the aisle over a minor inconvenience? What are all those guests going to think of you? What are they going to think of this family?"

I stared at her. "So you think it's perfectly fine for me to walk down the aisle in a plain bridesmaid dress on my own wedding day?"

"A dress is a dress! It's just a little less flashy. When I married your father, I didn't even have a real gown!"

She rattled off her excuses rapidly.

Her tone was practiced. It was entirely rehearsed.

My legs suddenly felt like lead. "Mom, you knew about this. Didn't you?"

My mother paused. Her eyes darted away from mine.

"Jules, my hands were tied. I'll explain everything once the reception is over."

My voice shattered the quiet room.

"So you all knew! You all conspired behind my back to strip me of my dress and give it to her!"

Total silence fell over the room.

The only sound was the hum of the air conditioning vent overhead.

The cold air hit my face, freezing me to my very core.

"Mom, am I actually your daughter?"

Memories flooded my brain.

Every single year on our birthday, Hailey was the one who blew out the candles.

I used to beg for a second cake so I could have a turn.

My mother always said buying two cakes for twins was a waste of money. She promised we would alternate years.

But every year, without fail, she pulled Hailey up to the table.

When we were in middle school, the neighbor's house caught fire.

The flames spread to our siding.

I was trapped in bed with a broken ankle.

They completely forgot about me. They grabbed Hailey and ran out into the street.

Thank God the fire department arrived in time.

After high school, Hailey completely bombed her SATs and didn't get into a single good college.

My scores got me into Cornell.

My mother secretly called my guidance counselor and tried to force me to take a gap year.

When I refused, she dropped to her knees in the kitchen and begged me.

She said if I went to an Ivy League school while Hailey stayed home, the humiliation would kill Hailey.

Hailey locked herself in her room and cried for two straight weeks.

But what about me?

What did I ever do wrong?

Hailey stole everything I ever earned, and I was just supposed to swallow the pain.

Was I cursed to be treated like garbage for the rest of my life?