Chapter 2

The text overlays didn't stop, they became a constant, unwelcome companion in my vision.

Sometimes they were cruel, mocking my every move.

LoserLifeWatcher: Look at her eat that instant ramen. So pathetic.

Other times, they revealed more.

TechGuru007: The stream is on DarkWebz, channel 'TwoLivesExperiment'. Bet she can't even afford the access fee.

DarkWebz. I' d heard whispers about sites like that.

I used a library computer, my fingers shaking as I typed in the address a comment provided.

It took some navigating, past disturbing content, but I found it.

"Two Lives Experiment."

The thumbnail was a split screen: on one side, a recent, grainy shot of me scrubbing a toilet at the cleaning job, on the other, Jessica laughing on a yacht.

My stomach churned.

There were subscription tiers, donation buttons. My parents were making money from my misery.

A private message popped up on my cheap, cracked phone screen. Jessica.

"Heard you're having fun, sis. Enjoying the simple life? Don't work too hard. ;) "

I threw the phone across my tiny room. It hit the wall and clattered to the floor.

The comments in my vision seemed to laugh.

JessieFanClubPres: Queen Jessie with the epic taunt!

DramaLlama: This is getting good!

I tried to ignore it all, to focus.

School had always been my only escape, the one place I felt I could control something.

I studied relentlessly, fueled by a desperate hope.

My SAT scores came back near perfect.

A full scholarship to a state university, that was my dream, my way out.

I showed the results to David when he came for his weekly "collection."

He glanced at the paper. "Huh. That's nice, Sarah. Smart girl."

Then he pocketed the money I' d set aside for application fees. "Things are tight, you know."

Meanwhile, comments flooded my vision about Jessica's latest "struggle."

PrivilegedProbs: OMG Jessie is SO stressed about getting into that $80k/year private art college. Mom and Dad hired three tutors!

LegacyAdmit: Please, like she won't get in with their donations.

I won a small local scholarship, the "Mayor's Award for Academic Excellence." Five hundred dollars.

It felt like a fortune. Enough for application fees and maybe a decent laptop.

I was almost happy.

When I told David, he actually smiled. "That's my girl! Proud of you."

The next day, the scholarship money, which I'd hidden under my mattress, was gone.

A note was left on my pillow, in Karen' s handwriting.

"Sarah dear, there was a family emergency. We needed the funds. Don't worry, we'll take care of your college when the time comes. Focus on being a good daughter."

A comment appeared, dripping with sarcasm.

GenerousParentsInc: 'Family emergency' = Jessie wanted a new designer handbag that matched her puppy. So selfless.

The words blurred as tears I refused to shed pricked my eyes.

They wouldn't even let me have this, this small step towards freedom.

Their "show" demanded I stay trapped.