Chapter 3

Dad stayed up all night, but I never came home.

Mom came out of the bedroom. "That little brat still hasn't come back?"

Dad sat at the table, smoking. "I went around asking a few neighbors this morning. None of them have seen her. She's probably hiding in some corner, throwing a tantrum because she's mad at us."

Mom flung the dirty bedding she was holding onto the floor. "Isn't that what she's best at? Every time she does something wrong, she pretends she's lost her memory or acts like an idiot so we'll feel sorry for her and go easy on her.

"She almost got Lily killed this time, and she's still pulling this crap? Just wait until I catch her. I'll break her legs!"

Lily sat on a small stool, playing with building blocks. At those words, she looked up. "Mommy, don't hit Sadie."

"You're such a good girl, Lily." Mom immediately softened her voice. "Sadie did something very wrong. She almost let you freeze to death. When someone does something wrong, they have to be punished. Do you understand?"

Lily nodded as if she only half understood, then lowered her head and went back to building with her blocks.

Dad sighed and stubbed out his cigarette. "Our town isn't that big. Where could she possibly go? She probably felt wronged last night and went to spend the night at someone's house."

Before he could finish, Carol Harton's booming voice rang out from the yard. "Mark! It's time to gather by the big oak for the New Year's fireworks!"

Dad stood up in response.

"Everyone has to be there for the ceremony. Just wait until she shows up. I'll beat her to death!" Mom untied her apron. As she turned, she noticed the rag doll on the couch, still waiting to be mended.

It was my doll. Mom had given it to me.

A few days earlier, Lily had torn its arm, exposing the stuffing inside.

Mom had promised to sew it back together for me, but the next moment, she suddenly strode over and yanked at it with both hands.

Riiip!

The already fragile fabric split completely, and stuffing spilled through the tear, scattering across the floor.

I shuddered and tried to stop her, but my body passed right through hers.

That was right. I was already dead. All I could do was stand there and watch Mom throw the torn pieces of fabric into the trash.

"You're old enough to know better! And you're still playing with childish junk like this! All you do is act crazy and play dumb. You care more about a doll than your own sister!"

One of the doll's button eyes fell to the floor, rolled a few times, and stopped beside Lily's feet. She picked it up and clutched it in her palm.

"Let's go," Dad said, standing up. "She might be hanging around the big oak, watching the festivities."

"Exactly! This time, there's no way we're letting her off easy. She loves forgetting things, does she? I'll beat this lesson into her so she'll remember it for the rest of her life!"

They locked the door and headed toward the edge of town, holding Lily's hand.

"Hasn't Sadie come home yet?" a neighbor asked.

"We spoiled her rotten!" Mom immediately replied. "We said a few things to her yesterday, and she got so mad that she ran off and didn't come home all night! She's a teenager already, but she still doesn't know how to behave!

"You don't understand. That illness of hers... Who knows if it's even real? She forgets what she ought to remember but remembers things she shouldn't.

"Last time I scolded her, she forgot about it almost immediately. Then she came back smiling and asked what we were having for dinner! Can you believe how infuriating that is?"

"Come on, she's sick. You two should try to be more understanding..."

"Understanding?" Mom suddenly raised her voice. "If we keep indulging her, she'll think she can get away with anything! This time, she's going to learn her lesson!"

I followed silently behind Mom, unable to stop the tears from falling.

So this was what Mom really thought of me.

A crowd had already gathered by the old oak.

Red ribbons were tied around the oak's trunk. Tables had been set up nearby with food and drinks, and music played as the townspeople gathered to celebrate the coming New Year.

Mom scanned the crowd, her expression growing darker by the second. "Why isn't she here?"

"Maybe she's hiding because she's afraid to show her face. Once the celebration is over, we'll search every house. I refuse to believe she can disappear into the ground."

I blinked.

'Mom, Dad, I'm right here, in the pit behind this old oak.'