“Audrey,” my mother sighed, finally looking up at me with that familiar expression of mild disappointment. “Your sister doesn’t have a wealthy Mentor like Doctor Fleming taking an interest in her future. Youve always had advantages Jessica didn’t.”
I almost laughed. Dr Vivian Fleming was my research adviser because I’d earned that position through 80-hour weeks in the lab while Jessica was skiing in Aspen with our parents. The advantage had been working myself to exhaustion while my twin sister received our parents’ unwavering emotional and financial support.
“So I’m being punished for finding my own mentorship opportunities?” I asked, trying to keep the hurt from my voice.
My father walked in, putting an arm around my mother’s shoulder. “No one’s punishing you, Audrey. We’re just being practical. Your sister needs more help than you do. You’ve always been more resourceful.”
Resourceful. The word they use to justify never attending my undergraduate research presentations while flying across the country for Jessica’s volleyball tournaments. Resourceful. Their explanation for why Jessica got a new car for her 20 birthday while I received a gas station gift card.