Chapter 3

Mom and Dad stopped paying attention to me after that.

The two of them polished off more than half the plate of steak, and Mom even took the leftovers outside to feed a stray dog.

"I'd have been better off raising a dog than raising her," she muttered.

I didn't dare follow them anymore, so I curled up alone in my room.

Mom and Dad looked so happy when they played with Olivia.

They read picture books to her, and Mom's voice was so gentle, the way it hadn't been with me in a long, long time.

I listened until I fell asleep, but a while later, I heard Mom shout, "Sabrina! Olivia is asking for you again. Get out here and play with her right now!"

I stared silently at my closed bedroom door.

"I'm already dead, Mom," I thought. Even if I wanted to help, I couldn't anymore. "If you just open the washing machine door and look inside, you'll realize that I'm already gone."

The living room fell silent for a moment before Mom stormed over and shoved my door open.

Dad was right on her heels.

They both froze at the sight of the empty room. Dad looked around and even checked under the bed.

"Where's Sabrina?"

I thought they would panic. I thought they would race back to the washing machine and check, but Mom's face only hardened.

"That little brat's got more gall than I thought. Where else could she be? She must've snuck off to her granny's house to tell on us while we were gone. Who taught her to be so stubborn? She wants to play games with me? Fine. Let's play."

Mom turned and stormed over to my Barbie dolls.

She grabbed a pair of scissors and cut off the dolls' hair and heads. Then, she snapped their limbs, threw them onto the floor, and stomped on them.

I cried and tried to push her away, but it didn't do anything.

"Mom, I'm not throwing a tantrum. I want to be with you and Dad, too, but I'm trapped in the washing machine, and I can never get out again…"

Dad let out a weary sigh. "Forget it. We don't have time to deal with her right now. If she went over to your mom's place, at least we'll get some peace. I'm going to wash Olivia's clothes."

Was Dad going to do laundry?

I followed him out. As he walked toward the washing machine with a bundle of clothes, my heart began to race.

Part of me wanted them to find me, but part of me was scared that what they saw would frighten them.

Maybe once he found me, Mom would finally stop thinking I was just being difficult.

I knew it was useless, but I still reached out with my little hands and covered Dad's eyes.

Before Dad could crouch down and open the door, Mom called him away. "Don't put the baby's clothes in there! You have to wash them by hand!"

My hands dropped in defeat. I stole a glance back at the figure inside the machine.

In that closed washing machine, my body had already begun to bloat, and there was a faint odor coming from inside.

I had been missing for two whole days. It wasn't until the next night that Dad finally urged Mom to call Granny. "Check with your mom. See if Sabrina's behaving herself over there. Make sure she's okay."

Mom reluctantly picked up her phone, grumbling as she dialed.

"What could happen to a kid that old? Sometimes, I get so angry just looking at her. Having such a disobedient daughter makes me wish she'd just disappear!"

I lowered my head and picked at my fingers, too sad to speak.

"Mom, you already got your wish."

When the call connected, Mom cut right to the chase."Mom, is Sabrina there? Has she been behaving herself?"

Granny's voice crackled through the speaker, louder than usual. "What did you say?"

I thought Granny was asking out of shock, but then she immediately added, "I didn't hear you. Speak up."

The light in my eyes flickered out again.

Mom was about to say something when Olivia suddenly started crying, and the truth that was so close to coming to light was drowned out once more.