4
528words
My parents erupted in fury.
"No matter the cost, you must do everything possible to heal her!"
My brother also shouted nearby, "Yes! Treat her according to the plan we discussed before!"
He held me tightly. The warmth from his chest seeped into me, but I shuddered all over.
The plan discussed before... giving me canine vocal cords, ensuring I could never play the piano or walk again?
I wanted to laugh, but darkness took me once more.
When I woke up again, it was the day of the awards ceremony.
My fingers and legs were heavily bandaged, my throat swathed in gauze.
My mother clutched my hand, her eyes teary.
"Isabelle, you're awake? The doctor said you'll recover soon. Don't be afraid."
Her phone, resting nearby, happened to be streaming live from the award ceremony.
On the screen, Ann, radiant in a glittering gown, held onto my father and brother's arms, smiling sweetly.
Seeing my disappointed expression, my mother quickly switched off the phone, dabbing her tears.
"Are you hungry? The doctor said you can only have liquids these days. Should Mom get you some broth?"
I nodded. Once she left, I turned on my phone and watched the live stream.
On screen, facing various reporters' questions, my father and brother staunchly defended Ann, shielding her behind them.
When plagiarism was mentioned, they mistakenly glossed over, issuing a retirement statement on my behalf.
Ann stood on stage singing loudly, belting out my song "Moonlight in the Abyss," like a siren singing from the depths.
When the judges awarded her the prize, my heart felt slashed.
It was clearly my work, yet not one of them believed me.
In her acceptance speech, Ann even mentioned my father helped polish the song's lyrics, and my father smilingly acknowledged it.
He personally presented the award to Ann personally, calling her as his pride.
I bit my lip hard, tears falling.
These lyrics were born from my time in the orphanage, but now they were credited as their collaborative effort.
My brother told the media sternly,
"Ten years ago, our family was vacationing at sea. I went surfing and got caught in a tsunami. At the brink of life and death, it was Ann who jumped in without regard for her own safety to save me. She gave me her life jacket and was almost swept away by the waves..."
"Ann gave me a second life. As her brother, I will protect her with everything I have! Let her be the happiest mermaid princess, singing freely."
I laughed through tears.
Ann can’t even swim. How could she save you?
I was the one who gave you my life jacket, was swept away by the huge waves, smashed against the rocks, my back torn open, and nearly lost forever, and it became Ann's credit?
I wiped my tears and tremblingly sent a message to a long-unused number.
[Is your promise from back then still good?]
