Biased Parents, Ten Years Lie

It was New Year's Eve, and my brother, Finn, suddenly tagged our parents in the family chat—parents who’d been dead for ten years. “I’ve decided to forgive big brother. You two can stop pretending now!” Right after, Dad’s profile picture, a frowning emoji, popped up: “Finn, didn’t we agree to punish him until you got married? Why the sudden change of heart?” Mom’s angry emoji followed: “If it weren’t for him ten years ago, Finn wouldn't have been stuck in that wheelchair all this time!” Then she tagged me: “You should be grateful for Finn’s kind heart. That’s why you get to see us so soon and join us for dinner tonight. Come back and thank him properly!” It hit me then. The car crash ten years ago—it was all a charade. A staged death, orchestrated by them, just to punish me because I’d accidentally pushed Finn down the stairs. But they didn't know. I wouldn’t be making it to their long-awaited family dinner, not after ten years.