Swap Lives with My Sister
Chapter 1
My parents have always favored my sister,
Sarah.
Now, given a second chance at life, I’m done
competing.
Sarah wants my scholarship to Stanford? She
can have it.
Sarah wants my research project? It’s hers.
Sarah wants my boyfriend, Jason? He’s all
yours, sis.
This time around, I just want a peaceful life,
focused on myself.
Being me? I don’t regret it one bit.
1
“Ashley, you know about your sister’s health.
She can’t pull all–nighters studying like you,
she can’t get into a good college through the
く
regular admissions process. So, about that
scholarship…”
Dad’s voice cracked.
Mom glared at me, silently urging him on.
He finally choked out the rest of the
sentence.
“Could you, you know… give it to Sarah?”
It sounded like a question.
But it was a command.
Delivered without a shred of guilt.
I stared at my dad, his hair not yet gray, the
memory of falling from that building flashing
before my eyes.
It took a moment to realize I was reborn.
Back to seventeen, back to a time when I
could change everything.
Mom’s face hardened when I didn’t respond
immediately.
“Ashley,” she scolded, “you’re smart and
capable, unlike your sister. Whether you want
<
to or not, you have to give her the
scholarship.”
Last time, Mom said the exact same thing.
I was furious, refusing to give up what I’d
earned.
But in the end…
The scholarship was already Sarah’s, thanks
to my parents‘ maneuvering.
They didn’t even tell me it was a done deal,
letting me goof off for months, missing the
regular application deadlines entirely.
My dream school slipped away.
When I confronted them, do you know what
they said?
They said, “Just take a gap year, what’s the
big deal?”
One dismissive sentence cost me another
year of grueling study.
I finally got into college, only to face another
crisis: Sarah was failing and about to be
expelled.
My parents wanted me to hand over my
research project to save her.
I refused.
They pulled strings, flashed cash.
I cried.
I screamed.
But I ended up with insufficient credits,
expelled.
Back then, I didn’t understand that things you
can give away weren’t truly yours to begin
with.
The scholarship.
The research project.
But the things that are yours, you can’t give
away, no matter how hard you try.
Like my knowledge, the information etched in
my brain.
I met my parents‘ gaze.
“Okay,” I said steadily. “I’ll give it to her.”
<
Mom’s eyebrows shot up, surprised by my
easy surrender.
Dad let out a relieved sigh.
“Ashley, we’re so proud of you for being so
understanding.”
He handed me a gift.
The LEGO Star Destroyer I’d always wanted.
Huge, enough to fill my room.
Last time, that Star Destroyer was in Sarah’s
room.
