Chapter 5

At dinner, I was punished and not allowed to eat.

The aroma of food wafted from the kitchen, and my stomach twisted painfully.

Lydia “accidentally” spilled a bowl of soup at my feet.

“Oh dear, sorry.” She blinked, her tone devoid of apology.

Mom frowned, “Nora, clean it up.”

I knelt on the floor, wiping up the soup with a cloth, listening to them chat and laugh at the dining table.

“Mom, can you come to the parent-teacher meeting next week?” Phoebe asked.

“Of course,” Mom agreed with a smile, “Our Phoebe is so outstanding; of course, Mom wants to go.”

“Dad will go too!” Dad chimed in.

They were all so happy, while I was like a ghost.

I wanted to say that I also have a parent-teacher meeting. The teacher praised my progress this time.

Could Mom and Dad attend my parent-teacher meeting just once?

Even once would be enough.

But I didn’t dare to say it.

At night, I curled up in bed, my stomach hurting from hunger.

Footsteps came from outside, and Phoebe pushed the door open, holding half a piece of bread.

“Hungry?” She tossed the bread on my bed, a malicious smile on her face, “Beg me, and I’ll give it to you.”

I stared at her, unmoving.

"Dad's going too!" he chimed in.

They were having such a wonderful time together, and I felt like I was invisible.

I wanted to speak up, to say that my parent-teacher meeting was coming up too. The teacher had praised my progress this time. Couldn't Mom and Dad attend just once? Just once would be enough. But I couldn't bring myself to say it.

At night, I curled up in bed, my stomach aching with hunger. I heard footsteps in the hallway, and Phoebe Johnson pushed the door open, holding half a slice of bread.

"Hungry?" she tossed the bread onto my bed with a malicious grin, "Beg me, and I'll give it to you."

I stared at her, unmoving.

"Why are you acting all high and mighty?" she sneered, "Who do you think you are? In this house, you're not even worth as much as a dog."

I grabbed the bread and threw it at her face.

She screamed, and Mom rushed in immediately.

"Nora Johnson! What are you doing?!" She slapped me hard across the face.

I bit my lip, remaining silent.

"Go kneel in the storage room!" She dragged me out by my hair.

Phoebe hid behind Mom, smirking at me triumphantly.

The door to the storage room locked again.

In the dark, I hugged my knees and finally cried.

Why... why wasn't it me who died?

If it had been me, would it not hurt this much?

Ever since my sister left, I've been asking myself this question.

Now I've finally gotten my wish.

All night, I wandered aimlessly on the roof.

The next morning, a call came in.

Mom frowned, glancing impatiently at the phone screen. Seeing Adeline Sun's name, her mouth twisted.

"Hello?" She answered, her voice as cold as ice.

Adeline's voice was anxious: "Aunt, it's Adeline Sun. Is Nora home? I've been calling her, and she hasn't picked up. She hasn't replied to my messages either, and I'm a bit worried..."

Mom let out a cold laugh: "She can go wherever she wants. What does it matter to me?"

There was a brief silence on the other end.

"Aunt, Nora hasn't responded to me for two days. She never does this. Could you please check if she's home?"

"Check for what?" Mom's voice suddenly rose, "That useless thing, no one would notice if she died! Always with that dead look on her face, it's just bad luck!"

My chest tightened sharply. Even though I was already dead, hearing those words felt like a knife to the heart.

I floated beside Mom, staring at her face, trying to find even a hint of concern.

But she didn't even blink.

"Aunt!" Adeline's voice rose too, "How can you say that about Nora? She's your daughter!"

"Daughter?" Mom scoffed, "My daughter Esme Johnson died ten years ago. Now my daughters are Phoebe Johnson and Lydia Johnson. What is Nora? She's always so gloomy, it's annoying. You friends should avoid her too, or she'll lead you astray!"

My fingers trembled, wanting to grasp something, but they only passed through the air.

I've heard these words for ten years, but every time I hear them, my heart still clenches.

"Aunt, you're so biased!" Adeline's voice was filled with anger, "Nora is so good. How can you treat her this way? She's your real daughter. Why is she less than..."

"Enough!" Mom sharply interrupted, "My family matters are none of your business! Don't call again, it's bad luck!"

With that, she hung up the phone and tossed it onto the couch as if it were something dirty.

Phoebe leaned in, holding Mom's arm: "Mom, don't be angry. She's not worth it."

Mom patted her head, her tone instantly softening: "You and Lydia are the sensible ones."

I stood aside, watching this scene, and suddenly found it laughable.

The dead from ten years ago are treasured, while the living are trampled into the mud.

Even now, dead, no one cares.

I wanted to tell Adeline, don't look anymore, I'm already dead. Dead in the shadows of a street corner, with not even a stray dog finding my body.

But I couldn't.

On the fifth day, Adeline reported me missing to the police.

When the police found me, my body was already unrecognizable.