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773words2026-01-26 09:10

When my sister and I were 17,our parents died in a car accident.
Our uncle and aunt each offered to adopt one of us.
My sister,Jenna,without hesitation,chose our uncle,who lived abroad.

I went with our impoverished aunt.
Jenna didn't know that our uncle,overseas,was already destitute,adopting her only to claim half the settlement money.After gambling it away,he abandoned her on the streets,leaving her to scrape by in a slum.
Meanwhile,I went to one of the top universities with scholarship,and had a bright future.
When I visited her abroad,she,like a madman,dragged me,and both of us fell into the deep sea.
When I opened my eyes again,we were reborn—back to the day of that choice.
This time,Jenna rushed to choose our aunt,unaware that this was the start of her nightmare.

...
"Jenna,Sophia,this is your uncle.He hasn't been back in ten years—came specially for this."
The familiar voice felt like a lifetime ago.
One moment,I was falling down with my sister into the sea,saltwater burning my lungs.

Now,surrounded by mourners in black,in a graveyard—
I knew I was reborn,back to the day of our parents'funeral.
Before me stood our uncle,polished in a sharp suit,looking travel-worn.
He patted Jenna and me on the head,sighing,"Poor kids,you've suffered.Who wants to come with me to France to study?"
I glanced at Jenna.A lifetime ago,the moment Uncle walked in,she threw herself into his arms,sobbing.
This time however,she deftly avoided his gaze,clinging to Aunt's sleeve instead,tears welling up in her eyes."I...I can't leave Aunt,or my friends here..."
Before finishing,her tears soaked Auntie's arm.Aunt hugged her,soothing softly.
But I caught the faint smirk on Jenna's lips—
As expected,she was reborn too.
I turned to Uncle,smiling brightly."I'd love to go abroad with you."
Thus,things were settled.
After the funeral,Jenna strutted over,all smug."You’re nuts and stupid from studying.You think France is some paradise?It's just my leftovers."
I ignored her.
She thought my past life was a smooth sailing,unaware that Aunt's house was the true lion's den.
But where wwe were in the end depended not only on choices, but also our own efforts.
Jenna and I are twins.
Growing up,our parents,busy with their small business,often traveled.Each time they returned,they brought us trinkets.
But whether it was pretty dresses or a teddy bears,Jenna always snatched her favorite first.Even with identical dolls,she'd pick the one that looked better in her eyes.
As a kid,I'd cry and fight for them,but every tantrum earned only our parents'scolding:"Your sister's frail—don't fight her,be good."
And each time hearing that,Jenna would flash me the victor's smile:See?I'm the one they always favor.
So,when our parents died,and Aunt arrived from the county on an overnight train carrying dozens of bags,Jenna wasn't warm to her.
She quietly gathered her French competition awards,and when Uncle arrived,she flung herself into his arms,weeping.
When Aunt and Uncle asked what we think,Jenna deftly presented her awards:"Uncle,my French has always been stellar,and I sing and dance.Sophia just studies.In France,they value well-rounded education—I want to go with you."
Uncle nodded,pleased,then turned to me."Sophia?"
I sighed inwardly.Growing up,her grades were poor,so our parents poured money into her extracurriculars for her future.
For me,it was always:"Your grades are great—no need to waste money on tutors."
"I'll stay with Aunt.The education here suits me better."
Once things were set,Uncle eagerly dragged Aunt and the lawyer to discuss how they would do with our parents’ money.
In France,Jenna thrived like a fish in water.
Our Uncle never disciplined her, which had her freed from grueling classes and endless homework.She soon made friends with a crowd of aimless international students—clubbing,skipping school,drinking,shopping.
But she soon learned Uncle's cozy middle-class life was a facade.
To fund her reckless spending,he investedk all his assets and her education fund into the stock market,losing everything.
Burdened by loan sharks,he grew erratic,botched work data,and got fired.
He forced Jenna to drop out of her pricey private high school,dragging her along as he moved everywhere to avoid paying up.
With no diploma,Jenna ended up as a low-tier waitress in a diner.Proud and haughty,she fought colleagues over meager tips.
One day,the diner's TV broadcasted news of top students from a prestigious university in the States visiting Université PSL.
Clatter.
Her tray crashed.There I was,at the center of the screen,smiling radiantly.
Jenna's jealousy drove her mad.
She couldn't think of how she'd fallen so low,trampled by the sister she'd always despised.
So,when we met,she killed me without hesitation.
In every sleepless night in the slum,Jenna obsessed over where she'd gone wrong.
She finally"realized"her mistake was choosing our Uncle.
This time,she jumped at Aunt.
As she wished,I took her past life's path abroad.
She'd replace me as the shining scholar,while I'd face endless debts and dirty dishes.