Used as My Twin's Human Guinea Pig

"Mom, can I—"

I didn't get to finish.

With a loud splash, I was suddenly shoved into the sea.

The waves were rough. Just like my younger twin sister, Melody Judd, I was terrified of water.

I fought with all my strength to move forward, desperately trying to get back to the shore. The salty seawater rushed up my nose and into my mouth.

Finally, I managed to grab Mom's pant leg.

"Mom, help me! Please save me. I can't swim!" I begged, completely helpless.

But I never expected Mom to raise her foot and kick me in the shoulder. I lost my balance and fell back into the sea.

"Melody is eager to learn, so you're going to practice first!" Mom said. "Once you get over your fear and learn to swim, I'll feel comfortable enough to let Melody go in.

"You selfish brat. If you hadn't been so troublesome when I was carrying you, your sister wouldn't have ended up like this. This is all because of you!"

The waves crashed over me one after another. I fought against the current on instinct, trying to pull myself out.

But the more I struggled, the angrier Mom became. She raised her foot again and kicked me farther away. Seeing that I refused to give in, she even forced my head under with her hand.

"Get down there! Go!" Mom yelled. "You're the only one making a big deal out of this. It's just swimming. You'll learn after you go under a couple of times!"

Her next kick landed in my stomach. The sharp tip of her high heel dug into my flesh, sending pain through my abdomen.

I reached down to clutch my stomach, but a huge wave crashed into my face and swept me farther out.

"Help! Help me!" I gasped, struggling with everything I had.

Water filled my mouth and nose, choking me. I couldn't stop coughing, and a burning pain spread through my throat and chest.

As water rushed into my lungs, I could hear Melody laughing from the shore.

"Mom, Dad, look at how stupid Sophia looks!" she said through giggles. "She's using all four limbs. She's wriggling like a giant octopus!"

Mom's voice carried a gentleness I had never heard before. "If that makes you this happy, Melody, then Sophia is good for something."

It hurt.

It hurt so much!

The waves carried me farther and farther away. I couldn't hold my breath any longer.

Using the last bit of strength I had left, I shouted, "Mom, Dad, save me! I'm going to die!"

But the waves merely carried Mom's mocking words as they dragged me farther and farther away.

"Stop pretending!" she yelled. "If you weren't so healthy and full of energy, you wouldn't have had the strength to bully Melody. Then she wouldn't have ended up with so many health problems!"

Was that even my fault? I never asked for any of this, Mom.

All I ever wanted was to live.

Why did Melody get all your love and sympathy, while I got nothing but blame?

Finally, I stopped struggling. If they didn't love me, then I would finally give them what they wanted.