I didn’t ask to be born

Everything that comes out of my parent’s mouth involves money.

They made sure I knew that I was a burden to them

And that I should’ve known to leave them alone.

“Everything bad that happens to us

Is because of you.

Because you were born.

Because you were born a first-born daughter.

You made us waste 25 years’-worth of money on you.

As if you deserved it.

Your brother was born lucky.”

They kept a record of finances from the day I was born

To the present.

Marking down all the times they spent money on me,

Including diapers,

Baby food,

School supplies,

Rent for my apartment during college,

All the expenses when I was abroad.

They told me that they control me until the day they die,

Or until the day they sell me to a husband to control me.

And that before they die,

I have to pay back every single penny that they recorded.

So that they know I wasn’t a waste to keep.

They told me to have twin grandsons.

To make up for my birth.

As if I asked to be born.