One Sided Lover Or Warrior?

"It's hard to see when I showered all my love and care on my mum, but she always ended up asking about Vanessa. It's really hard to see that our beloved person loves someone else more than us, but unfortunately, we are the ones who truly care about them."

Heidi murmured under her breath, watching Vanessa sleep comfortably on the bed. Never had she felt jealousy or abandonment by those she loved. It never bothered her that their mum favored Vanessa so much.

Elysia could have shown some concern for Heidi, just once. She could have asked how Heidi was doing, if she felt okay, or if all her household chores were wearing her down. But day after day, Elysia only inquired about Vanessa.

Things had never felt negative between her and her sister or her mum, but after their father and brother died, everything changed.

Heidi took on the responsibility of caring for Elysia, attending to her every need, constantly checking on her well-being.

Yet, whenever Elysia felt a bit better after a bout of illness, her first question was always about Vanessa.

For the first few months, Heidi accepted it. She valued what Vanessa was doing for the family, helping them financially, which was crucial.

She was honored to have a sister like her. But over time, her positivity waned, unable to resist the growing feeling of abandonment, especially from her own mother.

All day, Heidi cooked, cleaned the flat, maintained the household, took care of her mother, served cold water to Vanessa when she returned home, and even stayed awake all night just to have breakfast with her.

Yet, despite all this, an emptiness gnawed at her, making it hard to breathe. She felt utterly drained by the lack of love and care from her mother.

Imagine working tirelessly for someone, only to see them prioritize another every single time.

For Heidi, this was the worst feeling ever. Today, when Heidi heard from the neighbors that Vanessa was a prostitute, her world shattered.

She couldn't believe her sister had turned to prostitution to help them financially. Heidi felt like the worst sister and daughter imaginable.

How could Vanessa not trust her enough to share such a monumental decision? And why couldn't she earn her mother's love like Vanessa?

Overwhelmed with rage, Heidi lashed out at Vanessa, losing control and saying things that hurt her sister deeply.

Sometimes, emotions overwhelm us, and in her fury, Heidi used words so harsh that Vanessa stood in shock, her expression frozen. Vanessa couldn't believe it was her sister speaking, and neither could Heidi.

After screaming, Heidi forgot that Elysia could hear everything. She stormed off to her mother's room, leaving Vanessa in the living room, drowning in her thoughts.

From Elysia's eyes, a single tear fell. Heidi, now returned to her senses, felt a crushing guilt for her behavior towards Vanessa.

It was the guilt that often follows when we realize we've hurt someone we love-the kind of guilt that feels irreparable.

Elysia's tearful gaze met Heidi's, and she began to sob quietly, breaking Heidi's heart into pieces.

The same mother who hadn't asked about her husband or son for a year, the same woman who had taken care of everyone, was now crying.

As Elysia's weak voice broke through her sobs, Heidi's heart shattered further.

— "Vanessa, my beloved daughter, worked hard for me and became hard on herself too."

Those were her last words. Elysia stopped breathing, leaving the world with Vanessa's name on her lips. Her soul departed, leaving behind Heidi and Vanessa.

Heidi fell to her knees, devastated. Even in her mother's final moments, Vanessa was her sole focus. Both were Elysia's daughters, weren't they?

So why the distance, the disparity that Elysia had created? Heidi clutched her mother's hand, sobbing uncontrollably, her cries echoing into the living room.

Her eyes were fixed on the floor, but her mind and heart were consumed by Elysia's final words.

Elysia didn't even consider Heidi worthy enough to speak to in her last moments.

Heidi's eyes brimmed with tears, her gaze blurred, and it felt as if the universe itself was confused by her sorrow.

Was she mourning her mother's death, or was she grieving the painful truth that, in Elysia's entire life, she had only ever loved her elder daughter Vanessa?

Even in her final minutes on earth, Elysia spoke only of Vanessa, neglecting Heidi's very existence.

When Vanessa rushed into the room and saw Elysia, she understood the situation. But Heidi was too exhausted to argue.

She wanted to confront Vanessa, to ask what Vanessa had done for Elysia that she hadn't. Was it financial support or something else that she had failed to provide?

But Heidi didn't look around; she just cried. She knew no one would ever truly understand why she wept so bitterly at her mum's death.

Everyone would assume she was mourning Elysia's passing, but the real reason was Vanessa.

When Heidi called out to the neighbors, they came, but only to gossip. Throughout her life, Heidi had watched her mum being ill and caring only for Vanessa.

The span of time was perhaps just a year, but the scars in her heart were a constant reminder that her mum never loved her as she loved her elder sister.

The guilt that had consumed Heidi a few hours ago faded away, leaving no trace. During her mum's funeral, she didn't see Vanessa once.

After the rites were over, she encountered a pimp in their neighborhood.

He worked for a brothel and, oblivious to her thoughts, offered her the same path as Vanessa.

The idea of becoming a prostitute struck her, not because she desired it, but because she craved some form of recognition, something she had never received.

She had been denied both love and hatred, always stuck in the middle-a place she despised.

Her prostitute sister received everyone's attention and love, but Heidi? Little Heidi was left to grapple with depression over her existence.

Unaware of the consequences, Heidi decided to become a prostitute too, just like Vanessa. At least then she might receive something tangible.

If people hated her, she would see it. She was exhausted from receiving nothing openly.

Her life and emotions had always been elusive, but now, perhaps, she could find some semblance of happiness.

Heidi invited the man into her house, a house now tainted by the presence of someone she despised.

She lied to Vanessa, seeing in her sister's eyes the same pain and unfulfilled desire for love that she felt. For a moment, her heart ached for Vanessa, but the harsh reality of their past soon overtook her.

Blinded by her own pain, she lashed out at Vanessa once more, projecting all her frustrations onto her sister.

But when Vanessa said she would forget everything, Heidi couldn't bear to stay any longer.

With tears streaming down her face, she left, abandoning all memories of Vanessa, her family, her mum, her broken heart, and her shattered sister.

As she descended the stairs, memories flooded her mind-sad, harsh, beautiful, happy moments. She had worked so hard to live on this planet.

Was it her fault for craving love?

Who knows?

But after all she had endured, didn't she deserve a proper ending? At least an ending, whether sad or happy. But sadly, she found no closure, no ending.