The narrator, Sofia, shares her life story, beginning with her idyllic childhood with her mother, a former model, in a small Ohio town. However, as Sofia grew older, she realized her mother's perfectionism and embarrassment over Sofia's sister, Iun, who has Stargardt disease and is nearly blind. Sofia took on a caretaker role for Iun, sacrificing her social life and relationships. When Iun was accepted into a prestigious school in New York, Sofia was torn between staying in their hometown and letting Iun go. The family's dynamics were revealed when their mother expressed her true feelings, admitting she never loved Iun like she loves Sofia. Sofia confronted her mother, and their relationship was irreparably damaged. In the end, Sofia came to understand that she needed to let Iun go, realizing the school in New York was the best place for her sister's future.
Here are the key facts from the text:
1. The narrator, Sofia, is from Ohio.
2. Sofia's father left when she was young, and her mother raised her alone.
3. Sofia's mother was a famous model and was known for her beauty and strength.
4. Sofia's mother had high expectations for her and often dressed her and her sister in matching outfits.
5. Sofia's sister, Iun, has a condition called Stargardt disease, which affects her vision.
6. Iun can only see to the sides and has no vision in the center of her eye.
7. Iun wore special glasses to help with her vision, but they didn't fix her vision completely.
8. Sofia's mother was resistant to Iun wearing the glasses at first.
9. Sofia's friends would often tease Iun and exclude her from activities.
10. Sofia stood up for Iun and defended her against their friends.
11. A boy named Philip intervened when Iun was in danger of being hit by a car.
12. Philip became friends with Sofia and accepted Iun for who she is.
13. Sofia and Philip started dating, but their relationship was affected by Iun's presence.
14. Iun's classmates would often bully her, and Sofia would stand up for her.
15. Sofia's mother would often embarrass her in front of the whole school.
16. Iun was accepted into a school for gifted children with a full scholarship.
17. Sofia's mother didn't want Iun to leave, but Iun wanted to go to the new school.
18. Sofia's mother confessed that she never felt like Iun was her daughter and didn't love her like she loved Sofia.
19. Sofia was shocked and angry at her mother's confession.
20. Sofia's relationship with her mother was beyond repair after the confession.
21. Sofia decided to let Iun go to the new school, realizing it was the best decision for her sister's well-being.