Sins of the Sterling

"Lyra, stop complaining. Sera isn't feeling well and she’s comfortable in this room, so you’re moving to the other one. Why are you even fighting with her over a toy? You know she shouldn't be getting stressed out.And look, even though you are our actual daughter, you need to keep that to yourself. It would be embarrassing for the Sterling name if people found out you grew up in the slums. Don't worry, we still see you as our kid, but if anyone asks, you tell them you’re adopted. Most importantly, your job is to take care of Sera."

A ten-year-old Lyra nodded with a smile. The young girl was just glad that she no longer had to live with the cruel woman who would starve her and make her work without rest. However, it took only months for the smile on her face to slowly disappear.

As she grew older, Lyra understood the meaning of her parents' words. She felt as if they were ashamed of her, and to make matters worse, they would compare her to Sera every time.

To them, Sera was their smartest, sweetest, and lovable daughter, while she was their shame.

"Mom look, I took first place in the exams." Lyra presented to her mother with a smile, hoping she would praise her the way she always praised Sera, but instead...

"No wonder Sera didn't feel like eating today. You know Sera has a weak body. Will you be responsible if something bad happens to your sister? Go apologize to her and tell her that you will never take her position again."

And slowly, Lyra began to lose sight of who she was. The young girl began to live her life carefully so that she may never disappoint her parents, but doing their bidding didn't get her the acknowledgement she wanted; in fact, things became worse as children from prestigious families began bullying her, and her parents did nothing but watch.

Sometimes, the little girl would wonder why no one loved her. Her adoptive mother didn't and now even her biological parents show little to no care for her. She would look at the moon and cry secretly, hoping there would be someone who would love just her.

Though Lyra had a hate-and-love relationship with Sera, a part of her still hoped that they could be like actual sisters but that hope shattered when as a twelve years old Lyra struggled to get out of the pool she was pushed in, the young girl screamed for help but no one came to her rescue and as she began to slowly sink into the water, she saw a twelve years old Sera hiding in a corner, watching her as the water swallowed her up.

Lyra thought if truly she was going to die this way, without knowing what it feels like to be loved, what it feels like to be happy. Why did everyone hate her? Is she that bad that no one wants her? When dying, most people would wish to change things again in their second life but as for Lyra, she wished never to be born again.

A splash was the last thing the twelve-year-old Lyra heard before closing her eyes.

"Hey, wake up. Wake up!"

Lyra gasped and began vomiting the water that had entered her lungs; she coughed heavily and then noticed the beautiful young man sitting down beside her with a relieved look on his face.

"If you can't swim, why did you go into the water?" The young man asked with a frown.

"I.....I was pushed."

"Who pushed you?"

"I.....I don't know. Thank you for saving me, I will surely repay you."

The young man scoffed and asked "Repay me? How can a girl who is being bullied repay me?"

Lyra clenched her fist and lowered her head as she said, "I have some money in my piggy bank. I can....."

"Is the money in your so-called piggy bank the worth of your life?"

"Huh?" Lyra finally raised her head to look at him. Water was still dripping from his hair, and he didn't look that older than her, maybe he was sixteen or seventeen, Lyra thought.

"If you wish to repay me, then fight for your life, no one can do that except you. Until you stand up for yourself, you will always keep looking for someone to save you." The young boy said as he stood up.

"What if what I am looking for is someone to love me instead?" Lyra found herself asking.

"Then you are even more pathetic than I thought. Listen to me little girl, no one will love you until you love yourself, and no one will save you until you save yourself. This world feeds on the weak, and the only way you can be victorious is to be strong; if not, a fire may be the next place you are pushed into." The young boy said and stretched forth his hand to help her stand.

Lyra stood up with his help and suddenly hugged him.

The young boy was shocked and was about to push her away when he heard her sniffing, and within seconds, her soft cry became louder. He sighed and softly patted her back, allowing her to cry her heart out.