Chapter 1

The air was growing thinner by the second, and I began to kick at the walls of the suitcase with everything I had.

The lock didn't budge at all, letting out only a cold, metallic click in the silence of the room.

Just then, the door was pushed open, and I heard hurried footsteps rushing in. In that instant, hope surged through me.

Mom and Dad heard me. They came to save me.

But the next second, Mom's voice sounded, laced with irritation, "This is all Ninette's fault. We exchanged all our cash for foreign currency just to take her abroad, and now we don't even have enough left for Amy's medical bills!"

A sharp, jarring crack rang out.

I didn't even need to see it to know what had happened.

It was my ceramic piggy bank with the little white rabbit on it, the one I had carefully saved for three years.

Mom sounded relieved. "Good. There's still quite a bit here."

"How did she save up so much?" Dad asked in surprise.

"Save?" Mom sneered. "She must've stolen Amy's allowance. I knew I wasn't wrong about her today!"

Dad sighed. "How did Ninette turn out like this? I always thought she'd grow up to be a good sister."

I heard the rustling of coins and the crinkle of a few loose bills being swept up.

As the door shut, I felt an icy gaze bore into the suitcase.

"Stay in there and think about what you've done," Mom said, her tone frigid. "If you can't learn how to be a good sister, then get out of this house!"

No…

That money wasn't stolen. I had saved it one bit at a time by skipping breakfast because I wanted to buy my sister, Amelia Orson, a birthday gift.

I wanted to scream and defend myself, but my oxygen-deprived throat could only produce a faint, rattling wheeze.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, I got out of the suitcase.

At that moment, the door swung open once more. Mom and Dad walked in, talking and laughing, and it looked like Amelia was fine now.

The tension in my chest finally eased.

I rushed forward, wanting to hug Mom and cling to her the way I used to, but my arms passed right through her.

They went to the couch and started discussing the itinerary.

I stood in front of them, waving my hands and shouting, "Mom, Dad, I'm over here!"

Their gazes passed through me and landed on each other.

Dad frowned as he spoke, "The cancellation fee is half the ticket price. It's such a waste of money."

Amelia immediately wrapped her arms around Mom. "I'm better now! I don't want you guys to waste money. I can go on the trip!"

Mom nuzzled her forehead against Amelia's affectionately. "My sweet girl, you're so much better than your sister."

I froze, then turned to Dad and begged, "Dad, can you take me with you? I know I messed up…"

At that moment, Dad looked toward the storage room door and said hesitantly, "Maybe we should bring Ninette along, too. She's just a kid. The punishment we gave her is enough. Besides, didn't she use to be your favorite? You often say a girl needs to travel and see the world."

My heart leaped, and a tiny spark of hope flickered to life.

Alas, Mom took the phone from his hand, her voice firm. "We're not taking her! What's the use of good grades if she's so twisted? This time, we have to teach her a lesson she'll never forget!"

Her fingers moved quickly across the screen, and without hesitation, she canceled my ticket.

I stood there, my transparent figure unmoving.

I watched Dad nod in agreement, and Amelia lean against them, receiving all their love and attention.

Only then did I understand that from the moment they locked the suitcase, Ninette Orson had already been completely erased from this family.