The morning sun slipped through the small kitchen window as Lina sat with her parents. Her father read the newspaper while her mother placed warm bread and eggs on the table. The air smelled of comfort.
"Eat well before school, Lina," her mother said gently, brushing her daughter's hair from her face.
"Yes, Mom," Lina answered with a smile. She always felt safe at home. Her parents were not rich, but their love made her world bright. They never compared her with others, never pushed her too hard. Instead, they believed in her quietly.
"You'll do great things one day," her father often told her. "Not because you have to, but because you have the heart for it."
Lina's hidden genius was something she rarely showed. She kept her abilities to herself, but her parents sometimes noticed small hints. They only smiled, proud of her without saying too much.
But at the edge of the table, Sophia sat silently, watching. She was the adopted daughter, and though Lina's parents treated her kindly, she always felt like she didn't belong. Every word of praise for Lina sounded like an insult to her.
When her father placed another egg on Lina's plate, Sophia's lips tightened. "Always Lina," she whispered under her breath.
"What did you say, dear?" the mother asked.
"Nothing," Sophia replied quickly, forcing a smile. But inside her heart, bitterness grew. She wanted to shine brighter than Lina, even if it meant dimming her sister's light.