Chapter 2My Mothers Deadly Glass Cage

On the morning of Paige’s birthday, my mother was up at dawn, decorating the living room like it was a royal gala.

She personally helped Paige zip up the outrageously expensive Chanel dress. She stood back, her eyes shining with absolute adoration. "My Paige looks like royalty."

Paige twirled in front of the full-length mirror, the skirt—encrusted with delicate pearls and crystals—catching the light.

I looked down at myself. I was wearing a faded, slightly pilled gray sweatshirt. A sour knot formed in my stomach.

This sweatshirt had been my birthday present from my mother five years ago. It’s one hundred percent cotton, Maddie, she had told me then. Perfect for your sensitive skin.

It was the last piece of new clothing I had ever received.

My mother always said that since I never went outside, I only needed a few basics to rotate through. But Paige got a brand-new wardrobe every season. Her closets were bursting, yet my mother still claimed it wasn't enough, constantly ordering her more.

I used to think I was a burden. I used to think it was only fair that Paige got the nice things, as compensation for the life my illness had stolen from her.

But now...

As I stood there, lost in thought, my mother turned to me. She grabbed my hand, plastering on a gentle, maternal smile.

"Be a good girl today, sweetie. Your sister has a temper, so if I keep her happy, she won't take it out on you." She squeezed my fingers. "You know you’re my favorite. When your birthday comes around, Mom will bake you a special cake from scratch, okay?"

I forced the corners of my mouth to turn up, though I felt entirely dead inside.

Every year on my birthday, my mother baked me a "special" cake. The strawberries were always bruised and mushy, and the sponge was invariably dense, dry, and tasted vaguely sour. I always choked it down, forcing myself to smile, telling myself that it was a labor of love.

But looking at the extravagant, three-tiered fondant cake my mother had ordered for Paige from a five-star bakery downtown, my chest physically ached.

Where the money goes, the love follows.

My mother said the sweetest things to me, but all her actual devotion went entirely to Paige. For years, I had just been lying to myself.

Soon, the doorbell rang. It was Aunt Carol and Uncle Tom.

Uncle Tom walked in, completely ignoring my existence. He walked straight up to Paige, grinning, and handed her a thick envelope. "Happy Birthday, kiddo. Two and a half grand. Here’s hoping this year brings you better luck, and you stop getting dragged down by certain people’s medical drama."

Aunt Carol shot me a look of pure disgust.

"Isn't it a tragedy?" she sighed dramatically. "Our poor Paige, in the prime of her life, trapped inside all day!"

She turned back to Paige, her face softening as she handed over a sleek, ribbon-tied box. "Paige, honey, I brought this makeup set back from Paris just for you. Open it!"

Paige squealed. She tore open the box, pulled out a luxury pressed powder compact, and immediately yanked down her mask to try it on.

My mother’s face warped in horror. She lunged forward, snatching the powder out of Paige’s hand and slamming the N95 mask back onto her face.

"Paige, have you lost your mind?!" my mother shrieked. "How can you open loose powder right in front of your sister?! Do you want to trigger an asthma attack?! You only ever think of your own vanity! You’re supposed to be protecting her!"

Being humiliated in front of our relatives instantly brought tears to Paige’s eyes.

Aunt Carol rushed forward, wrapping an arm around Paige, and glared at my mother. "Diane, what is wrong with you?! It’s the girl’s birthday, for God’s sake!"

"If you ask me," Aunt Carol muttered loudly, "you should have sent the sick one to a facility years ago, so the rest of the family could actually breathe."

Uncle Tom chimed in, crossing his arms. "Seriously, Diane. It’s eighty-five degrees outside, we can't open a window, and you won't turn on the central air. It’s like a damn sauna in here. No wonder Robert is always 'traveling' for work. Nobody wants to live in this hospital ward!"

They looked at me. Their eyes were cold, like they were looking at a pile of hazardous waste.

My mother threw her arms around me, burying my face in her shoulder as she began to sob. "Don't you dare speak about Maddie that way! She is the heart of this family! Paige and I are more than willing to sacrifice our lives for her!"

Uncle Tom and Aunt Carol exchanged looks of exasperation. Shaking their heads, they grabbed their coats and walked out.

Paige stood across the room. Her eyes were bloodshot with fury, locked onto me. She looked like she wanted to tear my throat out with her bare teeth.

Later, when my mother went to the laundry room, Paige cornered me by the front door. She grabbed my shoulders and shoved me hard onto the front porch, slamming the heavy oak door behind me.

"You ruined my life, and now you ruined my birthday!" Paige screamed through the wood. "The window didn't kill you last time, let’s see if the pollen outside finishes the job!"

Years ago, Paige had pulled this exact stunt. Back then, I had beaten my fists bloody against the door, sobbing for my mother to save me. My mother had let me back in, but she hadn't punished Paige. Instead, she had held Paige as Paige cried. It’s your destiny to suffer for your sister’s illness, Paige. You just have to accept it, my mother had said, weeping.

Remembering my mother’s tragic, helpless expression, and Paige’s vicious face, my heart hardened into a small, cold stone.

I reached into my pocket, my fingers closing around a few of the "Vitamin C" pills I had stolen from Paige’s bottle that morning.

I took a deep breath, turned my back on the front door, and walked out into the blazing July sun.

Today, I was going to find out exactly what kind of monster my mother really was.