5
At the mention of the chance to study abroad, I froze, and my thoughts drifted back to two years prior.
I was four years older than Finn and in my senior year of university when he was in 12th grade. Knowing I couldn’t rely on our parents, I studied relentlessly and was determined to leave the house.
For four years, I never slacked off and graduated at the top of my class. That all paid off when I earned a postgraduate recommended admission to a world -renowned university.
But Finn, who’d never taken academics seriously, failed his exams. He came home whining about wanting to study abroad.
Despite knowing he’d just waste the opportunity, Mom and Dad agreed without hesitation.
That night, Mom prepared a lavish dinner for me and piled my plate high with my favorite food. “Asher, you know our finances are barely enough to support one child studying abroad. Since Finn just graduated from high school, why don’t you let him go instead?”
I set my utensils aside and replied, “Mom, even if you send Finn, he’ll just squander the chance. My school is one of the best in the world!”
It was the first resistance I’d shown in years. Mom had always been used to me giving in to Finn, and shocked by my defiance, she slammed her spoon onto the table.
“Asher, your father and I raised you for years! Now that you’re about to graduate, shouldn’t you think about how to support us instead? Why are you still having us worry?
“How could you be so heartless to see Finn end up with no future? Why are you so cruel!”
Her voice grew hysterical as she screamed, “Are you trying to drive us to an early grave?”
Still clinging to the hope of her love, I relented, saying, “Fine, Mom. Calm down. I’ll give him the spot.”
Now, I deeply regretted that decision. If I hadn’t given that chance to Finn, I might have been working abroad and living a good life, not lying dead in a morgue.
A few days later, Mom held a decent funeral for me out of guilt. Aside from relatives and friends, many doctors from her hospital attended.
The nurse who’d tried to help me approached my grave with a bouquet. “I’m sorry. If I’d been braver, you might not have died.”
Of everyone present, she was the only one who’d ever helped me and the only one to apologize.
Meanwhile, Mom showed no remorse and deflected blame as if that could atone for her sins. “Asher has always been disobedient. He held onto past grievances and tried to hurt Finn, only to bring about his own downfall.”
Everyone knew how much she favored Finn and how I’d suffered over the years. But no one wanted to stir trouble and offered her, hollow condolences instead.
Amid the murmurs, police sirens suddenly blared. Officers pushed through the crowd toward Mom and Finn.
Confused, Mom remained rooted to the spot and asked, “Officers, who are you looking for?”
The lead officer checked a picture and asked, “Are you Freya Whitman?”
Mom nodded stiffly while the officer held up an arrest warrant. “Please come with me. We’ve received reports that you misused medical resources and led to an unlawful death.”
