Attention for the background character

Prologue

Notoriety comes to one person. Wealth and riches, all just for them. Nobody else mattered in their story. Not the enemies, the rivals, the friends, nor their own family. All the spotlight is on them, the stage is theirs to take while the rest of the cast belongs in the background.

They were the main characters, the story and world revolved around them. The world around them is dim while what small pile of dirt they stand on gets all the attention it wants.

I wish I could have been like that.

Since I was young, I had always dreamed of becoming successful, becoming known by the whole world. What was even my career choice? A doctor? A lawyer? Or was it a CEO? Ah, I didn't even care about what job I landed. As long as I can have the spotlight, I was fine with whatever.

It was all I cared about. All my life I was stuck under the shadow of my younger sister. It became my obsession to stand out brighter than her. However, I would always end up with the short end of the stick. Whatever I do, she does better. She was loved by everyone around her. She was our parents' favorite child, the smartest girl in school. Everything just seems to work out for her. She's prettier, guys and even some girls have their eyes set on her. She had a promising career planned out for her as well.

The world seems to be in her favor.

I wanted that, to have the story revolve around me. But instead I was an irrelevant character in someone else's. And I'll never get the chance to be anything else.

As the heart monitor slowly displayed the rhythm of my heart, I laid alone on my deathbed. No one else was here, the doctor left the room, the nurses were attending to other patients. Just me reevaluating my life and what I had been through.

It's...surprisingly soothing here. I know I'll probably die any day now, but it's calm. No dramatic events happening right now, just ease and silence.

When was the last time I had experienced peace like this? It's kind of sad actually, feeling calm before my death.

"Hey." A female voice came from the doorway. I know that voice, it was my younger sister Chieko. I didn't even hear the door opening, when did she get here?

I hear her grabbing a chair and taking a seat beside me. A pause of silence fills the air. The sound of shuffling broke the quietness "It's been a while since we talked hasn't it?" Chieko's voice was quiet, saddened even.

"I don't think I've seen you since you graduated from high school."

...

"I'm sorry mom and dad couldn't make it. I heard them arguing over the phone on my way here. I wasn't sure why though, I didn't hear much."

...

"I..." Her voice cracked "I got you something," There was a feeling of something being lifted up. I felt my hands being lifted, then being dropped on top of something. Feels like a heavy paperboard. "You...you forgot your novel."

The hard cover underneath my fingertips was familiar, reassuring even. I've held onto this novel so many nights, it's almost like second nature for me to feel comfort upon its touch.

"You seem to really like it, I see you read it all the time," Chieko said. God, if only I can explain it to her. I was obsessed with this book. It was my favorite thing to brighten me up in this dim world of mine. Honestly it was also probably a factor as to why I haven't done anything significant in my life.

"I've always wanted to ask to borrow it, but I never got the chance to ask you," Chieko added. From the sound of her voice, it sounded like she was trying to force a smile. I wasn't exactly sure what she was doing here in Nagasaki, so far from Osaka. Sure she was here to see me, but coming so far from home? We aren't even that close to each other.