Part 1The Two-Egg Truth

I was on a reality show with my sister. I was making instant noodles for her when she insisted I was doing it wrong.

"Mom always puts two eggs in when she makes ramen."

But growing up, I never once had an egg in my ramen.

Right there on set, we called our mom.

She admitted it. "It's such a small thing, why are you making a big deal out of it? You're being so petty, sis."

That day, a discussion quietly trended online. The headline read:

[Turns out, hearts really are crooked. Parents never love equally.]

* * *

When I dialed Mom's number, I was absolutely convinced my sister was remembering it wrong.

When we were kids, we were poor.

We only ate instant ramen on our birthdays.

I remembered it clearly. There were never eggs in the ramen.

My sister, Bella, wouldn't back down.

"There were too! Mom always poached two eggs at the bottom of the bowl. You're just remembering it wrong."

This show was being livestreamed, and the chat was already buzzing with excitement.

People were placing bets on who was wrong.

The call connected quickly.

Bella has a fast mouth. She spilled everything that happened in seconds.

Silence on the other end of the line. Then, Mom admitted it.

"Yeah, I put two eggs in for your sister."

Seeing Mom confirm her story, Bella looked smug instantly.

But my heart sank to the bottom of a freezing lake.

I asked, "Then Mom, why did I never get any eggs growing up?"

Mom's tone was dismissive, even a little accusatory:

"It's just two eggs. Why are you so petty, keeping score with your own sister?"

I lowered my eyes and said nothing.

I wasn't keeping score over two eggs.

I wanted to ask why she got them, and I didn't.

Bella realized something was off. Her smile faded.

But Mom was still laughing on the other end:

"Sis, you aren't seriously mad over two eggs, are you? Come on, stop being dramatic. If it matters that much, come home and I'll boil you ten eggs."

She reduced my silence to a tantrum over food.

I knew if I argued further, Mom would just dig her heels in and get angry out of embarrassment.

She’d probably ask if I wanted my sister dead to be satisfied.

Most of the time, I wasn't trying to win an argument.

I just wanted fairness.