The hospital waiting room smelled of antiseptic and stale coffee when I finally sat down. I\u2019d raced there the moment my stepmother collapsed, the sirens still echoing in my ears. My hands shook as I dialed her daughter, Lina, because she had always said, \u201cLet me know when it\u2019s over.\u201d The words felt cold now, but I repeated them to myself like a duty. When the doctor came out two days later with tired eyes and a soft voice, I made that call. Lina didn\u2019t cry. She simply said, \u201cI\u2019ll handle everything,\u201d and hung up before I could speak again.<\/p>\n
The funeral was small. Lina moved through it like a queen in black, greeting guests, signing papers, accepting condolences. I stood quietly in the back, feeling like a piece of furniture no one noticed. When the will was read, it was exactly as Lina predicted: the house, the savings, the jewelry\u2014everything went to her. I was left with a single envelope containing a handwritten note and a small potted jade plant. Lina smirked as she passed me, whispering, \u201cShe kept you around for convenience. I hope this teaches you something.\u201d I didn\u2019t answer. I just carried the plant home, unsure whether to feel grateful or foolish.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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