Suddenly, I understood what my mother meant when she said I was not destined for better.
I felt happy for Amber, but a strange feeling subtly crept into my heart.
The money from Amber's sale bought us that meal, and after that, even heavier burdens were placed upon my shoulders.
Days passed, and my mother's belly grew more extensive, signaling the impending birth.
My uncle's wife, Samantha Lewis, came to visit, fanning herself and eyeing my mother's round belly with a sigh. "Oh dear, that belly is so round; it looks like it's going to be a girl. It would be quite the joke if after selling Amber, you gave birth to another girl."
I've only just realized why my mother, who once had a bit of maternal love, has changed so drastically.
In the Lewis family, my father was the youngest son and oddly received the largest share of the inheritance, which always made the other branches resentful, leading them to mock and scorn us frequently.
Especially after my mother had two daughters in a row while my uncles had sons, their arrogance only increased.
This year, the harvest failed again, and it worsened my father's temper. He began to hit and yell at my mother, who, in turn, became harsh towards us.