“Yeah, it was a good decision to adopt Jenny. I don’t know what I would’ve done if she wasn’t with us! 

“Don’t even remind me about Charlie. I haven’t gotten a good night’s sleep since she killed these kids. Jenny’s been so devastated too! She keeps asking to take her sister’s place in jail.” 

I knocked on the door. Mom opened it, and her smile vanished when she realized it was me. 

“What are you doing here? Stay outside for a bit. We’re hosting guests today, and I don’t want you ruining everyone’s good time,” she said ruthlessly. 

After she closed the door, I heard her explaining, “Don’t worry about it. It was just the garbage collector.” 

I was finally allowed back into the house at nightfall, only to be slapped by my father. 

“You knew today was an important day for Jenny! How could you come by and drag everyone’s mood down? You couldn’t stay at the prison for just another day? You’re the reason everyone’s making fun of us now!” 

My mother looked me up and down, then quickly hid Jenny’s trophy away in fear that I would somehow ruin it. 

“You chose to come back today, didn’t you? Isn’t it enough that Jenny had a bad childhood? Why must you still pick on her? Why couldn’t they have given you a few more years in jail?” 

I was no stranger to these words. They had been frequent ever since Jenny was adopted. 

I glared back. “Did you forget the truth while you were lying to everyone? Jenny is the real murderer here!”