[ WP ] You and your mother have lived alone for as long as you can remember . On your 15th birthday , you find out the person you thought was your mother is actually your sister ...

`` Happy Birthday, Jack!'' my mom exclaims as she bursts into my room. 
 
 `` Mom! It's too early. Do n't I get to sleep in on my birthday?'' I already know the answer. I've never gotten to sleep in. Too many chores to do. If I'm not in school, I'm doing chores. Do n't get me wrong, I love my mom, but sometimes, she sucks. I'm 15 years old today and have no real friends. The people at school think I'm a weird loser because of her. All I really have is her. She says my dad left when I was a baby. I always felt responsible somehow. I always felt unwanted. 
 
 My mom is a nervous woman. I know that. When I was in second grade, I tried bringing a friend home and she freaked out at me. What bothers me most is she never hires anyone else to help. We live on a big farm. I do n't know how we've managed this long, and I'm getting out when I turn 18. 
 
 With no more resistance I get up and head to the bathroom to prepare for another long day, just like all the other days. I look in the full length mirror, and the reflection looking back at me is different somehow. Not only do I look more like a man, I feel like one too. 
 
 I've never had any kind of father figure in my life to teach me about being a man. That scares me. I do n't want to screw up my life. My mom just does n't understand. She was so young when she had me, and now she's completely cut off from everyone. 
 
 I go downstairs and see my mom standing in the kitchen. My mom is standing there waiting. `` I have something to tell you,'' she says in the coldest voice I've ever heard. `` Sit.'' 
 
 `` Mom, what's going on? I'm freaking out!'' 
 
 `` Sit!'' 
 
 I do. She looks me over as if she's now seeing me as the grown man I saw in myself in the mirror. She sits across from me and takes a deep breath. Silence. Waiting. Something's terribly wrong. That much is obvious. We sit in total silence for what feels like days. Could she have really kept me from my chores for hours? I do n't want to be the one to break the silence. 
 
 `` I had no choice.'' 
 
 `` What?'' 
 
 Silence. 
 
 `` Mom, what are you talking about?'' 
 
 `` Do n't call me that. You're not my son.'' 
 
 Tears well up in my eyes. What is she saying? How could she say such a terrible thing? 
 
 `` Mo-what's going on? What do you mean?'' 
 
 `` I'm not your mom. I'm your sister.'' 
 
 Silence. 
 
 I try to hold back but ca n't. The tears roll down my face. I'm confused, frustrated, sad and angry. What's going on? My whole world is falling down around me. 
 
 We sit in silence for hours again. I ca n't take it anymore. 
 
 `` What's happening?'' I scream, no longer able to control my volume. A fresh wave of tears hit me. I need answers. 
 
 `` Our parents are n't good people. I had to take you away. I had to keep you safe, but they've found us. And now they're coming back.''
