Chapter 4: Striving for Perfection

Aurora sat at the dinner table, quietly listening to the animated conversation about school. Her older sister, Anna, and her younger brother, Harvey, were exchanging tales of their latest achievements. It was a familiar scenario, one that had played out countless times before. But when it came to her, her parents remained silent, as though she were invisible.

Anna, with her striking beauty and impeccable grades, dominated the conversation. She recounted her recent success in the school debate club, how she'd won another award, and how her teachers had praised her remarkable intelligence and her worries and frustrations. Everyone applauded and showered her with compliments and suggestions. Anna reveled in the attention, her eyes shining with satisfaction.

On the other side of the table, Harvey leaned back in his chair, his posture the picture of indifference. He had barely scraped by academically, but it didn't seem to matter. He had nothing but complaints for his parents from school. In fact, it seemed as though he was celebrated for his carefree attitude and aloofness. "School's boring, isn't it?" he remarked, and that was enough to elicit laughter from their parents.

Aurora's heart sank. She had learned to accept that her parents didn't lavish her with praise like they did with her siblings, but it still stung every time she was overlooked. She yearned for a few words of acknowledgment, a hint that they noticed her efforts. Her grades were consistently excellent, and she worked tirelessly to maintain the household, taking care of chores and responsibilities that her brother and sister seemed to disregard. She wanted nothing but a few words of attention, praise or even acknowledgement of her work.

As the dinner conversation continued, Aurora decided to muster the courage to speak up, even if it meant breaking her usual silence at the table. "I received the highest score on my recent history exam," she ventured, her voice barely above a whisper.

Her announcement was met with a momentary pause. Her parents looked in her direction, their expressions showing signs of vague recognition. But then, Anna interjected with another tale of her accomplishments, and the attention quickly shifted back to her.

Aurora felt a familiar emptiness settle in her chest. Her words fell on ignorant ears. Her parents failed to given even acknowledgement to her words. A simple, ‘Well done’, was also not said. She had hoped that this time, her parents might show some interest, but she was quickly reminded that she was the afterthought in the family, she cares for them and they also might care for her but are just unable to show it.

After dinner, Aurora retreated to her room, feeling a profound sense of loneliness and emptiness. She gazed at her certificates and awards neatly arranged on the wall. They were a testament to her hard work and dedication, a reminder that she was more than just a shadow in her family. She longed for validation, for her parents to acknowledge her accomplishments and offer the praise that had become an elusive dream.

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***