Lahat ng Kabanata ng Abandoned the Day My Heart Needed Them: Kabanata 1 - Kabanata 8

When I next opened my eyes, I saw myself curled up in a corner behind the storeroom partition. I never thought death would be such a simple affair.As my soul drifted out of the room, I saw my parents helping a slightly tipsy Winnie through the front door.Winnie mumbled, "Dad, Mom, it feels so good to have you two all to myself…"My heart tightened at her sugary tone.Mom gently patted her back and said, "Go wash up. I'll make you some soup to help with your hangover."While passing through the living room, Dad stopped in surprise and asked, "Why's there glass all over the floor?""Ah, I think Sadie might have accidentally dropped the photo frame," Winnie piped up.She leaned against Mom's shoulder, her eyes gleaming with venom, and continued, "I think she was angry again this afternoon. She even called to yell at me…"She was lying.Dad frowned and glanced at the pills scattered all over the floor. "Don't hold it against her. We'll retake the photo tomorrow."They made a be

Mom quietly set down the hair dryer, a stern look in her eyes. "Don't talk nonsense."Winnie sat up straight. "It's not nonsense! Is being related by blood really that important? I've spent so much more time with you two than Sadie! All she ever does is cry or have episodes. What right—"Dad interrupted her tiredly. "Enough. You should go to sleep."Winnie bit her lip and left the room, clutching her pillow.Silence fell upon the bedroom.Mom suddenly piped up quietly, "Winnie does have a point… You've been burning yourself out looking after Sadie for three years. Why don't we… send her to a professional care facility?"Dad said nothing. He simply gazed at a childhood photo of me on his phone. Back then, I used to smile as radiantly as the sun. I floated over to them. I wanted to tell them that I'd get better soon, but they couldn't see me.Eventually, Dad sighed and replied, "Let's talk about it another day."He got up and started looking into places where I might be hiding.

The police soon arrived.Dad lunged forward as if grasping at a lifeline and pleaded, "Officer! My daughter… My daughter died inexplicably! She's so timid that she usually doesn't even lock her room door, so how could she… Someone must have killed her! Please, you must find the murderer!"Mom was slumped on the floor next to my corpse, clutching my stiff, cold hand in hers.She looked up at the police officer with tears in her eyes. "It's our fault… We shouldn't have left her home alone. We shouldn't have gone out for so long. She only made that one phone call. How could we have just…"She was completely overwhelmed by self-reproach and regret, leaving her unable to voice anything but broken sobs.The police officers soothed my distraught parents before starting to question them.As they progressed with their investigation, they came to a conclusion—there were no signs of forced entry, which ruled out homicide."Taking into account her medical history and the emotional triggers

Even many days after my funeral ended, flowers continue to pile high before my grave.Mom would visit almost every day. She would talk softly about everything from the weather to the most trivial matters, acting as if I'd just gone on a long trip.Dad, on the other hand, usually remained silent and would simply gaze at my portrait with bloodshot eyes."Sadie, Mom and Dad are sorry. We really let you down. In our cluelessness, we failed to protect you and caused you so many grievances. In our next life… In our next life, please be our daughter again, alright?" asked Dad.Mom added, "When that time comes, your father will cancel all his meetings for you, and I'll make you delicious food every day. It'll be just the three of us—no more adoptive siblings. We'll make up for everything we owe you in this life twice over. Please give us another chance…"Their voices were choked with sobs.Sunlight shone down on their newly grayed hairs, making my soul ache fiercely. I floated above the