I never went outside. I wasn't allowed to.
So, I could only look through the window and watch my parents play with my brother in the garden.
My dad would hold my brother above his head, and my mom would kiss his forehead gently. They smiled genuinely.
I wondered if my parents didn’t like me because I was a girl.
I started to act like a boy.
I thought if I turned myself into a boy, my parents would like me, too.
One night, I sneaked out, took some clothes that my brother had thrown away, and cut my hair short with scissors.
My hands were too small to control the scissors well. So I scratched my head, and blood flowed down the top of my head, but I didn't care.
Looking at the boy version of me in the mirror, I smiled.
I waited in front of my parents' door, looking forward to their reaction when they saw me the following day.
I waited in excitement all night, but the next day...
My dad looked at me with disgust and growled, "Who told you to do this? Look at you, so ugly! Go back and never come out!"
Seeing my dad's disgusted look, I turned to my mom expectantly.
But she kicked me without warning.
"You're just a jinx. Behave yourself! Don't dress like that. You could bring bad luck to Trevor!"