Miss nobody strikes back

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Chapter Fifty

It had been a week since I stayed over at Jenny's place. Honestly, that week felt like a breath of fresh air. Life seemed a little brighter, a little lighter, but now, as I stood in front of my own house, I felt the life draining out of me once more.

"Come on, bestie, everything is going to be fine," Jenny said, giving me a comforting hug from the side. She was holding a bag of snacks—the kind she’d bought just for me. I managed a small smile as I turned the key in the door, opening it to reveal my mum, dad, and Claire all laughing at something on the television. The moment they noticed me, their laughter faded, and silence took its place.

"Okay, make sure you take your meds, I'll come visit, eat and relax," Jenny whispered to me. I nodded as we hugged, then I watched her walk away, and with a sigh, I turned back to my family.

"Hanna…oh god, you're awake! The doctor didn't even tell me," my mum said, breaking the silence.

"Yeah," I replied flatly, moving over to the couch and sitting down. I noticed Claire staring at me with surprise; I could tell she was shocked to see me up and moving around. I shifted in my seat. "Aunt Susan was with me, so you didn’t have to worry," I added, looking directly at my mum.

"Look, Hanna, it's not what you think," she began, but I cut her off.

"Oh? Then what do I think?" My voice shook. "I think my own family didn’t visit me while I was in a coma. It seems like you all really enjoyed the peace and quiet."

"Hanna, look, Claire had a panic attack, and…" Mum’s voice trailed off, but I was quick to interrupt her.

"Yeah, she had a panic attack," I said bitterly, "just like she did when I was fourteen."

A painful memory flashed in my head, sharp and uninvited. My mother tried again, “We care about you, Hanna. We're your parents. I know Claire made a mistake, and she's sorry—”

"A mistake?" I scoffed. "A mistake that nearly cost me my life. She intentionally swapped my cake, and you call that a ‘mistake’? The school showed you proof! But, as usual, I can never compete with your princess, Claire. Even if she were to kill me, there’d always be an excuse."

My mother opened her mouth to reply, but I didn’t give her the chance.

"Do you remember when we were five? It was our birthday party. You baked just one cake and wrote Claire's name on it. You invited everyone—family, friends, neighbors—everyone came to celebrate Claire. Nobody even thought to ask, 'What about Hanna?' I was just a shadow in my own house. You didn’t even buy me a gift. Not one."

I paused, the pain in my chest making it hard to speak. "After that, I thought maybe if I tried hard enough, I’d win a sliver of your attention. I started reading at a young age, won medals and awards, but it was all in vain. The day I got a B on a test, you scolded me, you grounded me, you made me feel worthless. After that, I realized—no matter what I do, I’ll never be enough for you."

"Hanna, that’s not true—" my dad started, but I interrupted, barely holding back tears.

"Isn't it? Claire has hurt me so many times over the years, and every time, you defend her. You make excuses for her behavior, even when she’s been cruel and reckless. You call yourselves my parents, but you’re just people who provided food and shelter, not love or care. Claire is your daughter. You should focus on her like you’ve always done and just…leave me be."

They both stared at me in silence, my mother’s mouth opening and closing as if she were struggling to find words. After a few moments, she finally managed, "Hanna, look…about…"

But I couldn’t bear to hear another empty excuse. A sharp pain shot through my head, and I rubbed my temples. "I’m getting a migraine from this conversation," I said, standing up. "I’m going to my room."

I made my way upstairs, my hands trembling as I shut the door behind me. I sat on my bed and tried to calm my racing thoughts, letting out a deep breath. "How am I going to get through another week in this house?" I whispered to myself, shutting my eyes. I'd figure it out later; right now, I just needed rest.

Tamara’s POV

I watched Hanna disappear up the stairs, her words replaying in my mind, each one like a wound that cut deeper and deeper. As I sat there, I remembered the conversation I'd had with Susan not too long ago. She had warned me, "Even if you apologize, do you really think Hanna will forgive you? After everything?"

The memories washed over me like a tide, overwhelming and impossible to ignore. Years and years of pushing Hanna aside, of defending Claire, of making excuses—I had failed her in so many ways. And Claire just sat there now, her eyes downcast, as if she didn’t fully grasp the pain she’d caused. My husband sat quietly beside her, his face expressionless, though I wondered if he felt the same remorse I did.

"Mum, is Hanna going to be okay?" Claire’s soft voice broke the silence. "It…it looked like she hated us."

Her father wrapped an arm around her, pulling her close. "It's okay, Claire. Everything will be fine."

But as I watched them, I felt a familiar doubt creep in. I had defended Claire for so long, but now…I couldn’t help but wonder if I’d been blind. Was she really the sweet girl I thought she was? Or was she the person others had warned me about—the one teachers and friends had hinted at but never directly accused?

My thoughts spun, and a chill settled over me.

A/N: Miss nobody strikes back will soon come to an end, now it's going to be about the juicy love story between Hanna and Dominic, I'm so grateful for the journey we've all gone through together, love you all, my sweet readers. Share, comment and vote for my story.