“You’re late,” my mom said as she stepped out onto the porch, pulling her suitcase behind her. I glanced at the clock on my dashboard. It was 6:02 a.m., 2 minutes late.
“Mom,” I said, forcing a smile. I got out of the car to help with the luggage, but then I saw her—my sister, Lauren—emerging from the house with her own suitcase in toe. My smile froze.
“What’s going on?” I asked, trying to keep my voice steady. My mom turned to me, her expression far too cheerful for the situation.
“Oh, Violet, we decided Lauren should come instead of you. She’s been so stressed lately and she really needs this trip.”
My chest tightened. “Instead of me? Mom, I’ve been planning this for years. I paid for everything.”
She waved her hand dismissively, as if i’ just pointed out something trivial. “And we’re grateful, sweetheart. But you’re always working so hard. You can take another trip later. Lauren needs this right now.”
Lauren didn’t even have the decency to look guilty. She just smirked, shifting her weight onto one hip. “Thanks for understanding, sis,” she said, her tone dripping with fake gratitude.
I stared at the two of them, my heart pounding in my chest. My dad shuffled out out a moment later, avoiding eye contact as he handed me his suitcase.
“This is unbelievable,” I said, my voice shaking. “This was supposed to be our trip, something for me to share with you.”
“Well it still is,” my mom said with a smile, “just with Lauren instead. Don’t make this a big deal, Violet. Your sister really needs a break.”
My name is Violet, and for the past two years I’ve been working overtime, saving every spare Penny to give my parents a trip they’d never forget. Flights, luxury hotels, guided tours. I planned every detail down to the last dinner reservation. But as I stood there in my parents driveway watching my sister get into the back seat of my car, I realized something I’d been avoiding for years: it didn’t matter how much effort I put in. In their eyes, Lauren would always come first.
I clenched my jaw, biting back the sharp retort sitting on the tip of my tongue. Instead, I forced a tight smile and opened the trunk.
“Letun get going then,” I said, my voice flat. If they wanted to prioritize her over me, fine—they could go with her. But I wasn’t about to let them enjoy it.
The drive to the airport was suffocatingly quiet, except for Lauren’s incessant chatter. “Oh my gosh, Mom, did you see that Tik Tok about Paris? I can’t wait to go shopping there. Do you think we’ll have time for that, or will the tours take up the whole day?”
My hands gripped the steering wheel tighter as I stared straight ahead, forcing myself not to say anything. My mom chuckled softly. “Of course we’ll have time. We’ll figure it out when we get there.”