Chapter 2

With a click, the living room lights went out.

I hurriedly floated inside and saw Mommy in the bedroom's warm yellow light.

She had a sheet mask on and was feeding Timmy with a bottle.

I moved closer and tried to gently tug at her sleeve. "Mommy, I was wrong. I'll never get carsick again."

But my hand passed right through her sleeve and grabbed nothing.

After making sure Timmy had finished his milk and fallen asleep, Mom got up. She went to the window to pull back the curtain, and then she looked out into the yard.

When she saw that the car was quiet and still, Mom muttered under her breath, "That brat Zoe is such a handful. I need to discipline her later."

With that, she lay back down beside Timmy and turned off the small lamp in the bedroom.

The whole house fell dark.

I wanted to curl up in Mom's arms and fall asleep, just like I had before Timmy was born.

But when I saw the stains on my clothes, I was afraid of upsetting her again.

So I curled up on the rug beside the bed, close enough for Mommy to touch me if she lowered her hand.

"Good night, Mommy," I muttered.

Mommy, Daddy, and Timmy slept soundly.

But no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't fall asleep.

The floor was cold at night, and the chill seeped into my body. I lay there with my eyes open, counting star after star outside the window.

I assumed that once morning came, Mommy and Daddy would come get me.

I thought about how I would never upset Mommy again. I'd be her best-behaved child.

I waited like that for who knew how long, until the sky outside slowly grew bright.

Timmy's loud cries woke Mommy and Daddy.

I followed them as they hurried around early in the morning, taking care of Timmy. By the time they were done, it was almost 9:00 am.

Mommy and Daddy got ready to take Timmy to his baby development class.

When they saw the car in the yard, they seemed to remember something.

I floated nearby, filled with hope. They were finally going to bring me home.

But when Daddy stepped into the yard and saw no one through the rear window, he froze for a moment.

"Honey, isn't Zoe in the car?"

Hearing him, Mom came out with Timmy in her arms. She frowned at the car, which gave off a faint, foul smell.

"Where else could she be? Look again. It stinks. I'm not going over there."

Daddy walked over, leaned against the window, and squinted inside. Only yesterday's dried vomit remained on the back seat. There was nothing else.

He didn't know that my body had already slipped off the seat and curled up on the floor mat beneath it.

Daddy couldn't see me in the corner through the tinted window. He frowned and reached for the door handle.

But the moment his fingers touched it, Timmy started screaming behind him.

"Daddy! Daddy, carry!" Timmy's face was red from crying, and he stretched his little arms toward Daddy.

Daddy paused.

He glanced through the window again, looking around without much care. Once he was sure no one was inside, he turned and hurried back to comfort Timmy.

"I'm here!"

I floated where I was and opened my mouth.

Why didn't Daddy open the door?

If he opened it, he'd see me right there.

I wanted him to hold me, too.

But Daddy couldn't hear me. He walked over to Mommy, took Timmy in his arms, and gently soothed him.

Mom stood nearby, growing angrier by the second.

"That little brat! How dare she run away without a word after doing something wrong? My mom must have come and taken her away last night. Go ahead and spoil Zoe. She'll just get worse!"

My nose suddenly burned. I wanted to cry, but no tears came.

I muttered, "Mommy, I didn't run away. I'm right here in the car!"

I floated over to Mommy and Daddy and shouted at them, but they ignored me.

I watched helplessly as they left the yard with Timmy in their arms.

My chest hurt so badly that I could barely bear it.

-

By the time Mommy came back with Timmy, it was almost noon.

As soon as she stepped inside, my maternal grandmother, Marsha Grant, called.

"Where's Zoe? Has something happened to her? I've had this awful feeling all morning. Something just doesn't feel right."

But Mommy cut her off harshly. "Mom, stop pretending. Didn't you take Zoe home with you?

"What? I didn't pick Zoe up. She's not here." Grandma's voice turned frantic.

"You're still keeping up the act?" Mommy hung up without hesitation and immediately blocked Grandma's number.

"She still insists on spoiling her, right?" Mommy said to herself angrily. "Fine! She can take Zoe and raise her herself. Then I won't have to look at Zoe and get annoyed!"

Watching how Mommy behaved, I began to tremble.

I whispered, "Mommy, does this mean I can't come home anymore?"