Your father and mother were the rulers of the kingdom, and you were the middle child, with an older brother, Alexander and a younger sister, Isabelle. They were very good at caring for their children, but you felt like they treated you differently. It had been a year since you had spoken to anyone in the castle. Unacknowledged, and perhaps... forgotten. Suddenly, memories from the past flooded your mind.

"Oh dear, you can take your medicines by yourself right? Your brother has an archery competition. Mother and father have to go, do you understand?" That's what your mother said when you had a high fever. You tried to understand because your older brother was the heir to the throne. They had to pay extra attention to him.

"Look, your sister has successfully performed her first ballet dance. This should be celebrated." Father chimed in, his tone filled with pride for your little sister.

Then you glanced around your room, eyes landing on the trophies adorning the shelves. Painting competitions, dancing accolades, academic feats, designing achievements... "All these were not enough to make my family proud. What was missing? Was I not as smart and strong as my brother? Or not as beautiful as my sister?" You were asking to yourself. The desire for belonging, for acceptance, gnawed at your heart.

That morning, you found your father in his study. Hesitant but desperate for reassurance, you softly knocked on the door.

"Yes, please come in." his voice beckoned. You entered, perching yourself next to him, your cheeks flushing with shyness. With a soft slightly trembling voice, you asked, "Father, do you still remember me or not?"

But you could no longer hold back the emotional turmoil. Your eyes, which had been looking at your father with hope, slowly welled up. Your heart ached with the fear of being forgotten, a shadow in your own family.

"My daughter, what makes you think I forgot about you?"