Chapter 4My Mothers Deadly Glass Cage

It was the Fourth of July weekend. My father, who had been "traveling for business" for the better part of a year, finally came home.

To celebrate, my mother cooked a massive feast. She even bought us matching bracelets to commemorate the holiday.

Except, Paige’s was a solid gold Cartier Love bracelet. Mine was a braided red friendship thread from a craft store.

At the dinner table, my father raised his glass of wine, looking at my mother with a mixture of fatigue and gratitude.

"Diane, you’ve kept this family afloat," he said softly. "Taking care of Maddie all these years... it’s a heavy burden. I toast to you."

Tears instantly welled in my mother’s eyes. She reached out to touch his hand. "I would endure anything for Maddie."

"But my heart breaks for Paige," my mother sniffled, her voice trembling. "She’s in the best years of her life, and she’s trapped in this house, sacrificing her youth for her sister... it’s just not fair to her."

My mother reached over and stroked Paige’s hair, letting a single tear slip down her cheek.

My father sighed heavily. He reached into his suit jacket and pulled out a sleek black American Express card, sliding it across the table to Paige.

"Here you go, sweetheart. No limit. Whatever you want, just have your mom order it."

"Thanks, Dad!" Paige shrieked, snatching the card as if it were the holy grail.

My father smiled at her. But when his gaze shifted to me, the warmth instantly drained away. He looked at me the way one looks at a scuffed piece of furniture that you can't afford to replace.

The dining room was filled with the steam from the hot food, and the air was thick and oppressive. Sweat beaded on Paige’s forehead. She threw down her fork in frustration.

"Mom, open a window! I’m melting!"

My mother’s face hardened instantly. "Absolutely not! Do you want dust blowing in here? It could kill your sister!"

Paige slammed her hands on the table. "Then turn on the AC! We live in a sealed box all year round, I’m going out of my mind!"

My father looked at Paige with deep sympathy. "Diane, just turn on the air conditioning. If Maddie is sensitive, she can go eat in her room. There's no reason Paige needs to get heatstroke."

A flicker of genuine panic crossed my mother’s face, but she quickly masked it with righteous indignation.

"No! The vents will blow dust around the house!" My mother’s voice rose to a hysterical pitch. "Maddie suffers every day! As her sister, it is Paige’s duty to suffer alongside her. That is what family does!"

That was the breaking point. Paige snapped.

She grabbed her ceramic dinner plate and hurled it directly at me. It shattered against my shoulder, hot gravy and vegetables splattering all over my sweatshirt.

"Why do I have to be dragged down by this sick freak?!" Paige screamed, her face contorted in pure, unadulterated rage. "I can't go outside! I can't even have air conditioning! I'm living in a goddamn prison!"

My mother lunged out of her chair, wrapping her arms tightly around Paige, sobbing loudly. "I know, baby, I know it hurts! But we have to do this so your sister can survive!"

Paige thrashed against her, her eyes wild. "I don't want her to survive! I want her to die! She’s the reason Dad is never home! She’s the reason everyone hates us! I wish she was dead!"

Instead of reprimanding her, my mother just cried harder. "Oh, my poor Paige! Why did you have to be born into this tragedy?"

My father massaged his temples. He shot me a glare of absolute disgust.

"Maddie! Go to your room, right now. Stop antagonizing your sister."

But for the first time in my life, I didn't shrink away. I didn't drop my gaze.

Covered in hot gravy and broken china, I slowly stood up.

I didn't walk toward the hallway. Step by step, I walked toward the large bay window in the living room.

My mother froze. Her sobs hitched in her throat. "Maddie, what are you doing?"

I ignored her. I hooked my fingers behind the elastic of my N95 mask and snapped it off my face. Then, I placed my hand on the window latch.

My mother’s eyes widened to the size of saucers. A guttural scream ripped from her throat.

"Maddie, no! Don't open that! You’ll die!"

She scrambled over the chairs to stop me.

But she was too late. I threw the latch and shoved the window wide open. I leaned into the opening, inhaling massive gulps of the pollen-heavy summer breeze.

I didn't sneeze.

My throat didn't close.

I turned back to face my family, the wind whipping my hair around my face. I smiled.

"Look, Mom. Dad," I said, my voice bright and clear. "My allergies are completely cured!"

My father sat frozen in his chair, utterly bewildered. But my mother... all the blood drained from her face. She looked like she had just seen a ghost. Panic seizing her, she grabbed Paige by the arm and tried to drag her toward the bedrooms.

But I was faster. I ran over, grabbed Paige’s wrist in a vise grip, and reached up with my other hand.

I rested my fingers gently against Paige’s mask. My voice was soft, almost hypnotic.

"Don't run away, Paige. Aren't you dying of the heat?"

"Take off your mask. Come feel the breeze with me."

Feel the breeze. The breeze that meant freedom for me.

But for her, it meant death.