Chapter 1

I'm the middle child in my family, the invisible one nobody ever sees.

My older brother Marcus and younger sister Lily's birthdays are marked on the calendar, but Mom and Dad can never remember mine.

Marcus and Lily always have new outfits to wear, but Mom and Dad always forget to buy me new clothes.

Marcus and Lily get Christmas presents every year, but I've never received a single one.

And today, on our way home for the holidays on the freezing highway—

with temperatures well below zero—Mom and Dad once again forgot about me at a deserted rest stop...

When I came out of the rest stop bathroom, I saw Marcus and Lily getting into the car. I was about to follow when the car started up and drove away.

I ran after them, shouting at the top of my lungs:

"Dad! Mom! I'm not in the car yet!"

But the car quickly turned and merged into traffic, until I couldn't see it anymore.

I stared at where the traffic had disappeared, my lips trembling as I repeated quietly:

"Dad, Mom, I'm not in the car yet..."

My voice was as thin as a wisp of smoke, torn apart by the bitter wind the moment it left my mouth, scattering across the empty rest stop.

The next second, the last traces of shock and unwillingness in my heart were covered by a cold numbness.

I slowly withdrew my gaze and looked around.

The enormous rest stop was terrifyingly quiet.

Under the dim yellow streetlights, the sky was completely white. There wasn't a soul in sight.

In the distance on the highway, traffic roared past, headlights forming blurred ribbons of light, but not a single car stopped for me.

I didn't dare move around. My feet felt like they were filled with lead, rooted to the spot, as I clung to a faint glimmer of hope.

Maybe Mom and Dad hadn't driven far. Maybe they'd realize I wasn't in the car and turn right around to find me.

I gripped the corner of my jacket, staring at where the car had disappeared, over and over willing that familiar white sedan to appear.

It kept getting colder. The chill seemed to seep into the cracks of my bones, freezing me from the inside out.

My toes were already numb, gradually losing all feeling.

My cheeks were red and aching from the wind. Tears welled up in my eyes, but I didn't dare let them fall.

I knew that even if I cried, no one would come to comfort me.

Unable to withstand the bone-chilling wind any longer, I could only turn and shuffle toward the bathroom.

Compared to the open outdoors, the bathroom could at least block some of the wind.

In the silent bathroom, there was only the sound of my shallow breathing and the howling wind outside the window.

All those deliberately ignored grievances now surged over me like a tide, completely drowning me.

I remembered last year on my birthday—everyone forgot.

It wasn't until three days later when Mom saw the calendar that she remembered.

She hurriedly made a cake.

But for Marcus's birthday, the whole family had gone to his favorite amusement park. The custom-made cake even had "Our Pride" written on it.

Lily's birthday was even more extravagant—she'd invited her entire kindergarten class, and presents were piled up like a small mountain.

Ever since I was little, Marcus has been praised as smart, the family's future support. Lily has been doted on as the little ray of sunshine.

And me?

"Parker is such a good boy, never causes trouble."

That was my label—like a faint pattern on wallpaper. Present, but never noticed.

I don't know how long I sat in that bathroom. The warmth from my body gradually faded, and I started feeling cold again.

Just as I was about to lose consciousness from the cold, I heard light footsteps outside the door.

My heart jumped. I immediately perked up, instinctively raising my head, eyes locked on the doorway.

Could it be Mom and Dad?