The Dead Daughter They Couldn’t Escape

Summary

Within hours of my birth, three dogs in our neighborhood died.

My parents became convinced it was some kind of omen. They went to a self-proclaimed psychic, who told them I had been born to suffer in my younger brother's place.

From that day on, every time something went wrong in my life, they treated it as proof that I was protecting him.

Years later, on my birthday, I came down with a fever of 106 degrees. I could barely keep my eyes open.

Mom still hauled me out of bed and dragged me into the bathroom.