Chapter 3

Her gaze did not follow me. She was only looking through the window. Night had fallen. She stared at the front gate for a long time, then slammed her fork onto the table.

"I knew it. She isn't coming back!" Mom shot to her feet, picked up the untouched turkey, and threw it into the trash. “If she wants to stay with that woman, let her. I'm done waiting for her.”

"No…" I floated toward the trash and tried to retrieve the turkey. Dad had made it especially for me. But my hands passed through the platter over and over. I could not touch anything.

Dad gently patted Mom's back. "Don't be angry anymore. We still have Chloe."

Chloe immediately threw herself into Mom's arms. "Don't be sad, Mommy. Chloe will always love her own mom and dad. I would never leave with someone else."

Mom held her tightly. "That's right. I still have Chloe." Dad raised his hand and stroked her hair.

The three of them embraced beneath the flashing Christmas lights. I stood beside them and watched the stocking with Ella embroidered on it sway near the fireplace. This was supposed to be my home too. But they did not need me anymore.

The next morning, Dad went straight to my bedroom as soon as he woke. My bed was still empty. The storybook beside my pillow had not moved, and the stuffed wolf on the windowsill remained where I had left it. Dad's shoulders slowly slumped.

Mom stood behind him and gave a cold laugh. "You're still waiting for her? If she cared about this family, she would have come home last night."

The television in the living room was reporting the latest news about the mall fire. "Search and rescue operations at Silverpine Mall are nearing completion. Most victims have been identified by their families, but the body of one young girl remains unclaimed. She was found near the children's play area on the fourth floor.

She was approximately four feet tall and between five and seven years old. Contamination from the fire destroyed most of her scent, and pack trackers have not yet identified her family.

That was me. I rushed toward the television and waved desperately at Mom and Dad. "It's Ella! Daddy, please come and take me home!"

Dad approached the television, staring at the news footage. The reporter did not show a photograph of the victim.

The screen showed only the sealed mall and a medical examiner's vehicle slowly driving away. Dad's fingers twitched.

Then someone knocked urgently on the front door. Mom and Dad both turned. "Is Ella back?" Dad hurried toward the entrance. Panic flashed across Chloe's face, and she rushed ahead of him to open the door.

My best friend, Mia, stood outside. She held a beautifully wrapped present. The winter wind had reddened her cheeks, but her eyes were bright. "Good morning, Chloe. Is Ella awake? It's Christmas, and we promised to exchange presents."

Chloe blocked the doorway. "She isn't coming back. You don't need to visit her anymore."

Mia stared at her. "Why? Where did she go?"

Chloe curled her lip. "She liked the woman who sold chocolate. She thought she could eat candy every day if she went with her, so she decided that woman was her new mother. She doesn't want this family anymore."

"No!" Tears immediately filled Mia's eyes. "Ella would never leave without saying anything. Even if she had to go somewhere far away, she would say goodbye to me first. She promised."

I floated to Mia's side, warmth filling my chest. Someone still believed me.

Mom sighed, went into my bedroom, and dragged two large boxes to the door. They contained my favorite picture books, building blocks, and the stuffed wolf Dad had given me on my birthday.

“You can take these,” Mom told Mia, pushing the boxes toward her. “Ella won't be needing them anymore.”

Mia refused. She crouched beside the boxes and searched carefully until she found a small wrapped package. Two wolves holding hands were drawn on the paper. That was the special symbol Mia and I shared.

"I found it." Mia held the present gently. "This is the Christmas gift Ella promised me." She placed the gift she had brought into the box, then looked up at Mom. "These belong to Ella. I can't take them. I'll only take the gift we agreed to exchange. When Ella comes back, I'll give her mine myself."

Mom said nothing. Mia walked several steps away, then turned around.

"Mrs. Parker, my mom says trust is the most important thing in a family. Ella isn't a heartless child. There must be a reason she can't come home."

Mom slammed the door. "A child who knows nothing thinks she can lecture me?"

The more she thought about it, the angrier she became. She grabbed one of the boxes and dragged it toward the door. Dad hurried to stop her. "Rachel, what are you doing?"

"Leave me alone!" Mom shook him off. "If she doesn't want this family, then I don't want her either. Throw everything away. I don't want to see any of it again. From now on, we'll act as if she's dead."

But Mommy, I really was dead.

Chloe hurried over to help, dutifully carrying the second box for Mom. Together, they threw everything from my bedroom into the community trash area.