1 My turning point -1

December 1st,winter officially began. Outside the window, harmless, white snow falls like confetti from the sky and lands softly, covering the landscape below.

There were children outside playing in the snow, giddy with delight as they dressed in their winter outfits. Several neighbors sat on the benches, chatting with their neighbors in the community. Parents were having snow fights with their children and helping them build snowmen. Children giggled and skipped around with joy.

Her face was expressionless as she observed the harmonious atmosphere with no twitch of emotion. She was in a daze, ruminating over the past, wondering if she ever had a good time with her family, like one of those children.

"EMILY!!!" the maid screeched. Her head jerked up and turned to face the maid's gaze. "What are you doing by the window sil?" inquired the maid. "Stop staring and hurry up clean your room before Madam arrives."

Emily sighed and rose to her feet. The maid glared at her, as she turned and walked away.

My name is Emily Walker. Since I was a child, my parents have always adored my twin brother, Ethan Walker.

"Ethan, I got you the remote control toy you wanted," my mother eagerly told brother (6 years old). Brother rubbed his hands with glee. I peered behind the closed door at my mother. Mother's eyes locked with mine.

"What are you looking at?" mother yelled.

My parents are not fond of me. They are only interested in having a son and are reluctant to have me. They believe that having a daughter entails extra responsibilities.

My parents had high expectations of my brother, Ethan, to become economically productive. They are confident that as the sole heir to their company, Alstroemeria, he will succeed and lead it to greater heights in the future. On the other hand, they think I'm useless and expect me to marry into a new family and then leave.

For as long as I can remember, I've been mistreated and abused. I was malnourished and could only took a bath twice a week.

"Why does she look so filthy?" "Tsk tsk...the girl doesn't even know how to tidy up herself," the neighbors whispered.

"Mother, father I need a calculator for my upcoming math exam. Please give me forty dollars to buy it," I begged as I knelt. I couldn't get what I wanted. I could only hope that I wouldn't be bitten every time I needed something from them.

On the other hand, my brother, Ethan, was raised with love and affection, giving everything he desired and never saying no. They spoiled him beyond belief.

My parents did not reprimand him for his misbehavior. They let him do whatever he wanted as long as he did well in all of his exams.

He grew up to be a delinquent, hanging out with troublemakers, going to parties and nightclubs. Very often he returns home late at night or early in the morning. And neither of my parents questioned him.

People think that my brother is talented, kind, and hard-working, while I'm treated like the good-for-nothing little sister.

As neither of my parents acknowledge me as their daughter, the maids look down on me. When my parents abuse me, the maids turn a blind eye to it. They are oblivious to me and refuse to do the housework.They often talk back to me.

My parents rebuked me for dirtying the place and failing to clean up after myself. "Ugh ...WHY IS YOUR ROOM SUCH A MESS? If you don't clean up your room right now, you'll have to sleep on the streets" said my father. They threatened me to clean up, so I have to do all of the housework on my own. It was exhausting to clean up the entire room neatly every day after school. I didn't get enough sleep and was unable to concentrate in class.

At school, they called me 'skunk' and bullied me. My mother would slap and kick me in the stomach whenever I returned home. When my father got back from work, they would both curse and hit me.They were extremely harsh on me.

"WHO TOOK MY LAPTOP!!!" my father screemed. "Um dad...I just saw Emily in your room a few minutes ago. She could have taken it." Ethan stated. My eyes widened in horror. "Why would I take it?! I did not even go into that room! I have no reason to!" I exclaimed. "Then why don't we look into your room?" Ethan stated. Everyone went straight into my room. He took my backbag and opened it. "Oh, what do you have here?" my brother inquired as he peered into my backbag. He then removed my father's laptop from my bag. My father was enraged as he clenched his fist. "I- I'm not sure why it's there. Father, please believe me, I didn't take it." I pleaded as tears streamed down my cheeks. However, no one believed me. My father yanked my hair and threw me up against a wall. "How dare you touch my things without my permission," he shouted. My entire body ached in pain, and staggered as I looked up. My brother sneered at me and averted his gaze from me. Looking at that, I figured it was probably one of my brother's schemes.

I'm not sure why he hates me so much. He blames me on everything. He enjoys plotting against me and bullying me. I wonder why he does that. He has everything and our parents only loved him anyway. What more does he want?

Emily sighed. 'Haa... seriously, why is my life so miserable? Maybe i could just run away!' she thought. She shook her head 'I don't have any money and I definitely cannot sleep on the streets. Who knows what can happen to me.Once I finish my studies, I should get a job and leave this family as soon as possible.' Emily started to plan it in her mind.

One day, my parents abruptly made me quit school and informed that I was no longer required to attend.

"Emily, sweetheart," my mother said, "you don't have to worry about school; you no longer need to go; just stay at home and take care of yourself.

Take a look at how skinny you are. I'll be taking care of your meals from today onwards and making sure you're healthy."

Emily was taken aback by her answer. 'Wait... what did she just say?' Emily baffled.

"Emily, just listen to your mother and stay at home," my father advised. "We don't want you to be tense. You didn't do anything wrong, so just relax, okay?"

"Yes, father," I murmured in confusion. 'Did they take the wrong medicine today?' I pondered in my mind. Their actions made me suspicious of them.

And while Emily was thinking, Ethan glared at her from the side of the door. His face was scrunched into an awful scowl.