No Flowers for the Unwanted Child

Even at thirty, I still couldn't make sense of it. Both my parents were dual-income factory workers. So why had my childhood been nothing but suffering?

One day I posted about it online, just on a whim. The post blew up. The top comment read: "I'm guessing you're a girl, right?"

"Back then, dual-income couples were only allowed one child. They were hoping you'd get sick and die so they could try again for a boy."

"I bet they treated some male cousin of yours a whole lot better."

I sat frozen for a long time.