- 8.
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After the wedding incident, my relationship
with my family got even worse.
They never asked about me, except when
they needed money.
I remember when my mother called me on
New Year’s Eve, it was also for money.
She said, sighing, “Polly’s in–laws think the dowry was too little. Do you think you can
give us another 5 grand?”
I was speechless. “Are you serious? You want
me to pay?”
“Jenny, you’re her older sister, you should
help her. If her dowry is not big enough, they
are not going to respect her in the family.”
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I laughed, “How is that my problem? You are
the ones who have to deal with that!”
My mom was speechless. My dad yelled, “We
need the money for your brother’s wedding,
you can forget about it.”
“I’m telling you, you will have to pay, it is your
duty as a family member!”
I was enraged, was I a fool for them to
exploit?
We had a huge fight, until I was so cold-
hearted, that I hung up.
The older generation thinks a government job
is a great achievement, but it’s not for
everyone.
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I was not as comfortable as they thought, the
work environment was complicated, and I was
targeted by my colleagues for no apparent
reason.
They were pushing me to do their tasks. I had
to work overtime, I couldn’t call in sick, even
when I was running a fever.
I finished everything, and I was never
recognized or rewarded. I would be blamed
for their mistakes, because I had no
connections.
I complained to my boss, but all he did was
tell me how useless and worthless I was.
These insults left me dizzy and anxious.
I was berated severely, I couldn’t take it any
more, and I quit my job.
<
It was raining, there were less people on the
street.
I took a taxi, my head was heavy, and I told
the address, and fell asleep in my seat.
The driver, with his hat, just nodded.
I was not sure how long I had slept when I
woke up.
I noticed that the road was getting more and
more isolated, and it was not the route to my
apartment complex.
I panicked, and hit the window.
But the windows were locked.
“Who are you? Pull over! I want to get out!”
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He chuckled but didn’t say a word. The car
started speeding.
I wanted to call the police, but there was no
signal.
And then the car stopped. I was dragged out
of it.
We were on a hill, far from anything.
The man was strong and threw me to the
ground.
“What do you want? A robbery?”
But he didn’t want my money. He was
smirking with two scars on his face, made
more terrifying by the lightning.
<
He reached out and grabbed my neck.
“Jenny, why do you always have to steal
everything from Polly?”
“She is so sick and you’re still trying to steal
her man!”
“You deserve to die. You’re such a slut, you
deserve to die!”
He squeezed tighter, I could barely breathe.
Polly?
Was he her crazy ex?
Before Tom, Polly had a relationship. It was
an online romance. The guy was obsessed
with her and even borrowed money for her to
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But she didn’t like him, didn’t even want to
see him. She just dumped him as soon as she
was done using him.
“You’ve got the wrong idea…”
33
But he wouldn’t listen to me, believing only
his own twisted reality.
I struggled, kicking the rocks, my head
aching.
He snapped, lowered his head and stared at
my face with adoration.
“Polly, my Polly…”
“Let me have you!”
My clothes were stripped off of me, I was
く
shaking, overcome with terror.
No!
No!!
I was not Polly. I never stole her boyfriend.
Why are you doing this to me?
I have suffered enough in my life. Am I even
going to be humiliated in my death?
I tried to kick him, but he pinned down my
legs.
I was trapped.
“Polly, you have to be good…”
L
The voice of the devil was echoing in my
head.
My fingers trembling, I found my phone, and
called the first number on my list, while he
was distracted.
Mom, please help me!
I’m begging you to save me!
I was waiting, waiting, waiting.
But I only got disconnected. It sounded so
fragile in the rain.
The man found me, and smashed my phone,
and became more cruel.
“Did you go looking for another man?”
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“Why? What am I lacking?”
“Slut, slut!”
He went mad and started hitting me with a
stone.
My body was ruined, blood everywhere.
It hurt!
It hurts so much, Mom!
Blood was coming out, I could not make any
sound, my tears were mixed with the rain.
Finally, I gave up all my life, in endless
despair.
