My Father Called Me a Bad Investment

My father lifted his camera to photograph my twin sister’s graduation.

Then the dean stepped toward the microphone and announced:

“Please welcome Francis Townsend, our valedictorian and Whitfield Scholar.”

And suddenly, the same man who once told me there was “no return on investment” with me went completely still.

The camera strap slipped through his fingers.

The Daughter They Didn’t Choose

Two weeks ago, I stood on a stage in front of three thousand people while my parents sat proudly in the front row wearing pressed navy clothes and smiles prepared for someone else.

They thought they were there for Victoria.

My twin sister.

The chosen daughter.